Pharmaceutical government contracts
In fiscal year 2026, federal agencies obligated $21.98B on pharmaceutical contracts so far (Defense contracts arrive about 90 days late, so the year's total is still rising). Department of Veterans Affairs bought the most, followed by Department of Health and Human Services. 10 pharmaceutical contract opportunities are open now on SAM.gov, and 142 contracts worth $13.19B with options end in the next 12 months.
Drugs for VA, Defense Department and other federal health programs, bought through national contracts and the VA's Federal Supply Schedule.
Open notices
- Inhaled Nitric Oxide · Sources Sought · due 2026-10-22
- Methylphenidate ER · Presolicitation · due 2026-10-23
- Department of War Pharmacy Uniform Formulary Blanket Purchase Agreement / Uniform Formulary Additional Discount Program · Solicitation · due 2026-10-26 · No Set aside used
- 6505--Imatinib Tablets · Solicitation · due 2026-10-30
- 6505--FY27 Low Energy General Radiopharmaceuticals 36C25027Q0052 · Sources Sought · due 2026-11-03
- LIDOCAINE 5% PATCHES-REQUEST FOR INFORMATION · Sources Sought · due 2026-11-03
- Methylphenidate ER · Solicitation · due 2026-11-06
- Epinephrine Injector · Solicitation · due 2026-11-16
Agencies buying pharmaceutical work, FY2026
- Department of Veterans Affairs $13.44B
- Department of Health and Human Services $5.96B
- Department of Defense $2.35B
- Department of Justice $201.96M
- Department of Homeland Security $23.42M
- Department of Agriculture $4.24M
- Department of State $754.4K
- Peace Corps $496.5K
Companies winning it, FY2026
- Mckesson Corp $13.52B
- Merck & Co., Inc. $2.25B
- Cencora, Inc. $2.10B
- Pfizer Inc $1.06B
- Glaxosmithkline, LLC $1.06B
- Sanofi $734.41M
- DMS Pharmaceutical Group Inc $181.64M
- Emergent Biosolutions Inc. $118.15M
- Phlow Corp. $105.27M
- Bavarian Nordic A/S $96.96M
Where the work is, FY2026
- Texas $13.38B
- Pennsylvania $2.18B
- Illinois $257.76M
- Virginia $116.18M
- Tennessee $93.79M
- Florida $91.46M
- Massachusetts $91.20M
- New Jersey $73.49M
- Oklahoma $70.00M
Money by year
Obligations (money committed) in prime awards, from USAspending.gov.
Contracts ending in the next 12 months
142 contracts, $13.19B with options. The largest:
| Contract | Incumbent | Ends | Value with options |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36C25726N0098 DALLAS VA PHARMACY COMPOUNDING FOR ONCOLOGY DRUGS | Optum Infusion Services 308, LLC | 2026-10-26 | $1.20M |
| 36C26226N0112 PLUVICTO AND LUTATHERA | Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation | 2026-10-31 | $4.30M |
| 36C24724F0045 PYLARIFY QTY 80 | Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2026-10-31 | $3.21M |
| 36C25026N0149 FIVE YEAR FOR PET ISOTOPES | Petnet Solutions, Inc. | 2026-10-31 | $1.09M |
| 36C26226F0051 PIFLUFOLASTAT F 18 - PYLARIFY | Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2026-10-31 | $1.08M |
| 36C26226F0031 DELIVERY ORDER FOR PYLARIFY | Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2026-11-03 | $5.02M |
| 36C24426N0108 ILLUCCIX | Nuclear Diagnostic Products of Philadelphia, Inc | 2026-11-03 | $1.17M |
| 36C24125F0139 PYLARIFY | Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2026-11-30 | $1.34M |
| W81K0226PA002 TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION (TPN) PHARMACY COMPOUNDING SERVICES FOR TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, HAWAII | Value Drug, Limited | 2026-11-30 | $1.32M |
| 36C26023P0532 RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL ISOTOPES | Cardinal Health 414, LLC | 2026-11-30 | $1.04M |
How the government buys pharmaceutical work
- Prices to the VA and other federal buyers are capped under the Veterans Health Care Act (the federal ceiling price) for covered drugs.
- Distribution runs through prime vendor contracts held by large wholesalers.
Industry codes
Federal contracts are filed under NAICS industry codes. This page counts these; each has its own page with every office that buys it and the newest awards.
- NAICS 325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing · SBA small business size standard: 1,300 employees or fewer
- NAICS 424210 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers · SBA small business size standard: 250 employees or fewer
Getting started
- Register in SAM.gov, the step before any federal award.
- How small-business set-asides work and whether you count as small.
- How to read a SAM.gov notice and decide whether to bid.
- Get new pharmaceutical notices by email when they are posted.
Related lines of work
From USAspending.gov prime awards (obligations: money committed) and SAM.gov notices, updated daily. Sources and limits