Perspecta was one of the largest pure-play government IT services companies in the United States before Leidos acquired it in 2021 for approximately $3.4 billion. The combined company now generates roughly $15 billion in annual revenue and holds major contracts with the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and intelligence agencies. For small and diverse businesses, that scale translates into real subcontracting volume across IT services, cybersecurity, data analytics, logistics support, and professional services.
Getting onto Leidos's supplier radar takes more than submitting a form. This guide covers what they buy, how the registration process works, which certifications carry weight, and what actually moves the needle on getting your first order.
What Leidos buys from external suppliers
Leidos's primary contract work sits in defense IT, health IT, and civil government programs. Subcontracting spend flows into several categories:
Information technology: Systems integration, network engineering, cloud migration, cybersecurity, and software development. Contracts like the DHMSTRE (Defense Health Management System Modernization) and various VA modernization efforts create ongoing demand for specialized IT firms.
Professional and technical services: Program management support, systems engineering, training development, and technical writing. These categories are well-suited to small businesses because the entry requirements are lower than large hardware or infrastructure procurements.
Facilities and logistics: On large defense contracts, Leidos sources facility support, equipment maintenance, and logistics coordination from local subcontractors near military installations.
Staffing and workforce solutions: Many prime contracts require cleared personnel at specific locations. Small businesses holding their own facility security clearances or employing cleared staff have a meaningful advantage here.
Federal contracting law requires large prime contractors to submit subcontracting plans on contracts over $750,000. Leidos, as a major prime, files these plans regularly. That legal requirement creates a structural incentive to find and use qualified small and diverse businesses, not just a voluntary commitment.
How to register as a supplier
Leidos manages supplier relationships through its Small Business Program, operated out of its corporate procurement function. To start the process:
- Register in SAM.gov first. Every company that wants to work on federal prime or subcontracts needs an active SAM.gov registration. This is non-negotiable. The registration requires your UEI number (Unique Entity Identifier, which replaced DUNS in 2022), NAICS codes, banking information for electronic funds transfer, and representations and certifications. Keep your registration active; it expires annually.
- Identify the right procurement contact. Leidos maintains a Small Business Program office staffed by a Director of Small Business Programs (a required role under federal acquisition regulations). This person and their team serve as the primary interface between the company and prospective small business suppliers. You can find contact information through the Leidos corporate website under the "Suppliers" or "Small Business" section. Search for "Leidos Small Business Program" to locate the current supplier registration page and contact details.
- Submit a capability statement. Before or alongside any formal registration, prepare a two-page capability statement that highlights your NAICS codes, core competencies, past performance on government or commercial contracts, and any relevant certifications. Leidos procurement staff use these to match suppliers to active or upcoming procurements.
- Register in their supplier portal. Leidos uses a third-party supplier management platform for formal onboarding. The registration captures your company profile, business size, certification status, insurance information, and capability areas. Navigate to the Leidos corporate website and look for the supplier or procurement section to find the current registration link.
Which certifications carry the most weight
Leidos participates in three major diversity supplier organizations: NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council), WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council), and NaVOBA (National Veteran-Owned Business Association). Each maps to a specific supplier category they actively track.
NMSDC MBE certification is the most recognized credential for minority business enterprises in the corporate supplier diversity space. Leidos's procurement teams use NMSDC certification as a primary filter when identifying qualified diverse suppliers for subcontracting opportunities. The certification is issued through one of NMSDC's 23 regional affiliate councils and requires that 51% of the business be owned, operated, and controlled by a U.S. citizen who is Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Native American.
WBENC WBE certification applies to women-owned businesses. Leidos reports WBENC-certified spend as part of its corporate diversity commitments. If your business is majority women-owned, WBENC certification substantially increases your visibility in their supplier database.
NaVOBA VBE certification covers veteran-owned businesses. On defense contracts in particular, Leidos has strong incentive to partner with veteran-owned firms because it supports both its subcontracting plan compliance and its relationships with veteran service organizations and DoD stakeholders.
Federal certifications also matter. If you hold an SBA 8(a) certification, WOSB designation, SDVOSB verification, or HUBZone status, include those in your profile. Leidos can use federal set-aside subcontracts to meet its subcontracting plan goals, so federal certifications are not secondary to corporate ones.
How diverse certification status affects your chances
Certification does not guarantee a contract. It gets you into the right database searches and onto the right invitation lists. The practical effect: when a Leidos program manager needs to fill a subcontracting requirement and searches for qualified small businesses in a specific NAICS code, certified suppliers appear in filtered results that non-certified suppliers do not.
The second effect is proposal support. On competitive prime contract bids, Leidos's proposal teams identify diverse subcontractors to include in their subcontracting plans. If you are registered, certified, and have a compelling capability statement on file, you may be contacted during the proposal phase rather than after award.
Tips for getting your first order
Register early, before a specific procurement appears. Suppliers who are already in the system when a need arises have a significant head start over those who register in response to a solicitation.
Attend Leidos-sponsored small business events. Their procurement team runs supplier outreach sessions, participates in NMSDC and WBENC conferences, and hosts capability briefings. These are direct access points to the program managers and procurement officers who make subcontracting decisions.
Be specific about your NAICS codes. Vague capability descriptions hurt you. If you do network engineering on DoD systems, say that explicitly and list the relevant NAICS codes (541512, 517312, or others that apply). Generic profiles get passed over.
Pursue teaming arrangements. If you are too small to prime a contract independently, teaming with another small business or a mid-tier contractor can get you into active work while you build a past performance record. Leidos's small business office can facilitate introductions to other registered suppliers.
Target VA and DoD programs specifically. The VA and DoD account for a substantial share of Leidos's revenue from the Perspecta acquisition. If your capabilities align with health IT (for VA) or classified systems support (for DoD), those are the program offices most likely to have active subcontracting budgets.
Past performance is the single hardest barrier for new suppliers. If you do not yet have federal contract history, document commercial work that demonstrates comparable scope, security practices, and technical capability. Government contracting officers and prime contractor procurement staff both evaluate past performance heavily, even at the subcontract level.
Who handles supplier diversity at Leidos
Within Leidos, the Director of Small Business Programs holds primary responsibility for supplier diversity outreach, subcontracting plan compliance, and supplier development. This role is federally mandated for large prime contractors under FAR 19.702. The small business office works alongside category managers in procurement who handle specific spend areas.
On large programs, individual Program Managers also have influence over subcontracting decisions. Building a relationship with both the small business office and relevant program teams is more effective than relying on either alone.
Supplier development programs and events
Leidos participates in APEX Accelerator events (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers), small business matchmaking sessions at federal agencies, and the annual conferences run by NMSDC, WBENC, and NaVOBA. These conferences are where their supplier diversity staff actively meet prospective partners.
They also engage with the SBA's subcontracting program and participate in agency-hosted industry days where prime contractors and small businesses connect before solicitations are released. Monitoring SAM.gov for Leidos-related solicitations and industry day announcements is a practical way to stay ahead of upcoming opportunities.
Registration is the floor, not the ceiling. The suppliers who win subcontracts from Leidos are the ones who register early, maintain an active and specific profile, hold recognized certifications, show up at the right events, and follow up consistently with the small business program office.
