Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Abbreviation: NRC

Chairman (as of 2026): David A. Wright

2026 Budget: $1.0B

SAM.gov CGAC Code: 3100

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as nuclear medicine, through licensing, inspection, and enforcement of its requirements.

NRC was established in 1975 as the civilian successor to the Atomic Energy Commission and is led by five commissioners serving staggered five-year terms.

How to Win NRC Contracts

Winning work at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissionmeans understanding a procurement culture that blends rigorous compliance, deep mission focus, and a preference for vendors who can speak the agency's language from day one. This guide walks through how NRC buys, the vehicles it uses, and the steps your company should take to go from registered vendor to awarded contractor.

Understanding NRC Procurement

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission obligates roughly $200-300M in contracts annually supporting licensing, inspection, and research for commercial nuclear power, research reactors, and radioactive materials. NRC is funded primarily by fees assessed on licensees.

NRC contracts cluster around technical-review support, research (including advanced reactor licensing), IT modernization, and inspector training.

How NRC Buys

NRC uses GSA MAS, OASIS+, and NITAAC CIO-SP4 plus agency-specific IDIQs for technical review and research.

The Office of Administration’s Division of Contracts runs procurement centrally.

Major Contract Vehicles

NRC Technical Assistance Contracts (TACs)— Multi-year IDIQs providing technical support to licensing and inspection activities.
Research Program IDIQs— R&D supporting regulatory decision-making.
OASIS+ and CIO-SP4— Professional services and IT modernization.
GSA MAS— Broad use across categories.

Step 1: Get Registered and Compliant

Required Registrations

SAM.gov registration with UEI and CAGE code, full FAR representations and certifications.

NRC-Specific Requirements

Nuclear engineering or health physics credentials. 10 CFR Part 810 compliance for export-controlled work. NQA-1 for nuclear quality assurance.

Certification Programs

8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB. NQA-1, ASME N-Stamp, ISO 9001 common plus-ups.

Step 2: Identify Opportunities

Primary Sources

SAM.gov filtered by NRC. The agency publishes an annual forecast.

Key Offices

NRC Division of Contracts — Rockville, MD.

Top Contract Types

T&M/LH and cost-plus for technical assistance. FFP for commodity services. IDIQs for multi-year TAC programs.

Step 3: Position Your Company

Build Relationships

Attend ANS (American Nuclear Society), NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute), and NRC Regulatory Information Conferences.

Relevant NAICS Codes

541330–Engineering Services
541715–Scientific R&D
541512–Computer Systems Design
541990–Professional Services NEC
541620–Environmental Consulting

Step 4: Develop Winning Proposals

Technical Approach

Demonstrate nuclear engineering, health physics, or reactor technology expertise. Generic engineering proposals lose.

Past Performance

Prior NRC, DOE NE, or commercial nuclear-industry experience (licensees, plant operators, fuel vendors).

Pricing Strategy

Cost-realism on technical assistance is rigorous; under-pricing specialist nuclear labor is quickly identified.

Winning Strategies

Specialize by reactor technology (LWR, advanced reactors, research reactors) or by review area (licensing, inspection, research).
Build NQA-1 credentials early.
Team with national-lab primes on research IDIQs.
Track advanced-reactor licensing pipelines for multi-year work.
Pursue TAC primes only with deep nuclear past performance.