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NAICS 424110: Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers

NAICS 424110

NAICS 424110 – Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers encompasses the wholesale distribution of commercial-grade printing paper, writing paper, stationery, and related paper products to institutional, governmental, and commercial buyers. This sector serves as a critical supply chain link between paper manufacturers and end-user organizations that require consistent, high-volume paper procurement for administrative, operational, and record-keeping functions.

Industry Spending Overview

Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 424110.

AI Industry Description

NAICS 424110 – Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers encompasses the wholesale distribution of commercial-grade printing paper, writing paper, stationery, and related paper products to institutional, governmental, and commercial buyers. This sector serves as a critical supply chain link be...

NAICS 424110 – Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers encompasses the wholesale distribution of commercial-grade printing paper, writing paper, stationery, and related paper products to institutional, governmental, and commercial buyers. This sector serves as a critical supply chain link between paper manufacturers and end-user organizations that require consistent, high-volume paper procurement for administrative, operational, and record-keeping functions. In government contracting, these wholesalers facilitate the procurement of standardized paper products used in federal offices, medical facilities, and veterans’ service centers, often under blanket purchase agreements or GSA schedules. The nature of this NAICS is logistical and supply-chain focused, with an emphasis on reliable delivery, bulk packaging, and compliance with federal procurement standards for quality and sustainability. Marathon Medical Corporation is the leading contractor in this category, operating as a specialized distributor with deep integration into federal healthcare and administrative supply chains. Its presence reflects a trend of medical and institutional suppliers expanding into broader paper and office supply distribution to meet the consolidated procurement needs of government agencies. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the primary federal buyer in this sector, sourcing paper products to support VA medical centers, regional offices, and administrative operations that require high-volume printing for patient records, correspondence, and compliance documentation. Demand is driven by sustained operational needs rather than project-based spending, resulting in steady, recurring procurement cycles. The competitive landscape is concentrated among a limited number of established distributors with GSA Schedule contracts and proven logistics capabilities. Opportunities exist for contractors with scalable warehousing, just-in-time delivery systems, and experience navigating federal acquisition regulations. Market activity is characterized by low transaction volume per award but high contract longevity, favoring suppliers with institutional relationships and consistent performance records.

Small business size standard

The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 424110 work as a small business.

SBA threshold
225 employees
Applies to the whole industry code

The SBA cap for this NAICS (13 CFR 121.201). A business at or under it can self-certify as small for work in this code, which is what makes it eligible for a small-business set-aside. The cap is set per NAICS, so the same company can be small in one code and not in another.

13 CFR 121.201, effective January 1, 2026. The SBA revises the table roughly once a year.

Key metrics

Federal obligations and activity under NAICS 424110, last 12 months.

Total Obligations

$136K

Last 12 months

Average Award Size

$10K

Per awarded contract

Opportunities Posted

954

Last 12 months

Active Contracts

79

Currently open

Awarded Contracts

13

Last 12 months

Awards Expiring

1

End date within 12 months

Contractors Awarded

4

Last 12 months

YoY Growth

-76.5%

vs. prior 12 months

Top contractors

Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 424110, ranked by dollars won.

Ranked by Total Awards

Top agencies

Federal agencies directing the most contract spending toward NAICS 424110.

Ranked by Total Awards
Department Of Homeland Security$50K
Department Of State$30K
Department Of Justice$30K
National Gallery Of Artistic$25K
Top 4 combined$136K13

Competition

How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 424110, from bidder counts reported on USAspending.

Usually Single-Bid

Half or more of reported awards drew exactly one bidder, usually a sign of incumbent-held work rather than an open field. · 8,520 reported awards

Median Bidders

1

Per reported award, all-time

Single-Bid Awards

61%

Share of reported awards with one bidder

10+ Bidder Awards

0%

Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders

Reported Awards

8,520

72% of 11,814 total awards

Bidder Count Distribution by Fiscal Year

Share of reported awards in each bidder-count bracket per federal fiscal year.

How this code compares up the NAICS hierarchy. Parent cohorts pool every code under their prefix, so they are the steadier baseline when a 6-digit sample is thin.

Industry FamilyCompetitionMedian BiddersSingle-BidBidder MixReported Awards
424110This Code
Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers
Usually Single-Bid161%
8,52072% of 11,814
42411NAICS Industry
Usually Single-Bid161%
8,52072% of 11,814
4241Industry Group
Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers
Fewer Bidders247%
73,65930% of 246,548
424Subsector
Moderate Competition49%
3,024,80945% of 6,684,688
42Sector
Wholesale Trade
Moderate Competition318%
7,888,73341% of 19,426,206

Bidder counts reported on past federal awards in this NAICS (USAspending). An open opportunity has no bidders yet, so this is the historical norm for similar work, not a fact about this solicitation. Not all awards report bidder counts, and fewer bidders often means incumbent-held work rather than an easier win. Federal reporting of bidder counts fell from ~96% of awards (FY2016) to ~30% (FY2018 onward); the chart shows shares of reported awards, and washed-out stretches mark years with fewer than 30 of them.

Related NAICS codes

Industries similar to Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers, by shared sector, subsector, and industry group.

Stationery and Office Supplies Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of s...
424120Same industry groupHigh similarity

Industrial and Personal Service Paper Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of k...
424130Same industry groupHigh similarity

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of b...
424210Same subsectorMedium similarity

Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of p...
424310Same subsectorMedium similarity

Footwear Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of f...
424340Same subsectorMedium similarity

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of c...
424350Same subsectorMedium similarity

General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of a...
424410Same subsectorMedium similarity

Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of p...
424420Same subsectorMedium similarity

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NAICS 424110 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

NAICS code 424110 covers Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers. This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of bulk printing and/or writing paper generally on rolls for further processing. Illustrative Examples: Bulk envelope paper merchant wholesalers Bulk paper (e.g., fine, printing, writing) merchant wholesalers Bulk groundwood paper merchant wholesalers Newsprint merchant wholesalers Cross-References.

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