Subwire · updated weekly from SAM.gov
Federal subcontract radar.
When the government awards a big contract, the winner — the prime — has to buy most of the actual work from smaller companies. The award is public the day it happens; the subcontractor bench gets built in the following weeks. We read every new award, name the trades each prime will need, and tell you who to call before the first task order drops.
This week: the Navy just named ten primes on a $997M fuel-systems contract
The Global Petroleum, Oils & Lubricants (GPOL) MACC — inspection, repair, and renovation of fuel systems at installations worldwide, administered by NAVFAC EXWC in Port Hueneme, CA. No task orders issued yet, which means all ten primes are assembling subcontractor benches right now.
| Subcontract trade | Est. share | Why the primes need it |
|---|---|---|
| Tank & pipeline coating / lining | ~25% | API 653 tank work: blasting, coating, lining |
| Mechanical / pipefitting & welding | ~25% | Piping, valves, pumps — certified welders |
| Electrical & controls | ~15% | Leak detection, gauging, pump controls |
| Civil / earthwork & concrete | ~15% | Containment berms, tank pads, trenching |
| NDT & tank inspection | ~10% | API 653/570 inspection precedes every repair |
| Environmental services | ~10% | Spill response, tank cleaning, waste disposal |
Primes on this award: CMS Corporation · APTIM Federal Services · PCI BHATE JV · Pacific Design Builders · ECC · WSP USA Government Solutions · Tepa and Pond Constructors JV · DAWSON Technical · Weston Solutions · Bristol Engineering Services. Source: SAM.gov award notices, August 2026.
What subscribers get every Saturday
- The awards that matter — new federal awards in your state over $1M, in plain English.
- The trades each one creates — what the prime will have to buy, with rough dollar shares.
- Who to call — the prime's subcontracting contact to find, plus a ready-to-send intro email written for your trade.
Free for trade contractors while we're in the pilot. Consultants and capture teams: $199/mo for the multi-state edition.
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Tell us your trade and the states you work in. First digest is free either way.