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NAICS 513120: Periodical Publishers

NAICS 513120

NAICS 513120 – Periodical Publishers encompasses the publication and distribution of periodical content, including magazines, journals, newsletters, and other regularly issued publications, whether in print, digital, or hybrid formats. This sector supports government communication, research dissemination, and public outreach through authoritative, recurring content that informs policy audiences, technical communities, and the public.

Industry Spending Overview

Federal obligations, top contractors and agencies, and related industry codes for NAICS 513120.

AI Industry Description

NAICS 513120 – Periodical Publishers encompasses the publication and distribution of periodical content, including magazines, journals, newsletters, and other regularly issued publications, whether in print, digital, or hybrid formats. This sector supports government communication, research dissemin...

NAICS 513120 – Periodical Publishers encompasses the publication and distribution of periodical content, including magazines, journals, newsletters, and other regularly issued publications, whether in print, digital, or hybrid formats. This sector supports government communication, research dissemination, and public outreach through authoritative, recurring content that informs policy audiences, technical communities, and the public. In the federal contracting landscape, periodical publishers often deliver specialized content for agency newsletters, scientific journals, regulatory bulletins, and educational materials aligned with mission-critical programs. These publications may be produced under contract to federal entities seeking to maintain consistent, compliant, and credible information channels, often requiring adherence to accessibility standards, editorial governance, and secure distribution protocols. No contractor data is available to identify leading firms in this NAICS code within the government contracting space. The competitive landscape likely includes a mix of large commercial publishers with federal contracts, small businesses specializing in niche technical or scientific publishing, and nonprofit organizations producing government-sponsored periodicals. No agency data is available to identify primary buyers. However, agencies with extensive research, regulatory, or public affairs functions—such as the National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Agriculture—are typical consumers of periodical content for disseminating findings, guidelines, and policy updates. The market for periodical publishing in government contracting is characterized by low concentration and high specialization, with opportunities often tied to long-term content production contracts rather than large-scale procurement events. Contractors with expertise in editorial compliance, digital publishing platforms, and federal content governance are well-positioned to compete in this niche but stable segment of the federal information ecosystem.

Small business size standard

The SBA threshold that decides who can bid NAICS 513120 work as a small business.

SBA threshold
1,000 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 513120, last 12 months.

Total Obligations

$45.7M

Last 12 months

Average Award Size

$226K

Per awarded contract

Opportunities Posted

307

Last 12 months

Active Contracts

6

Currently open

Awarded Contracts

202

Last 12 months

Awards Expiring

235

End date within 12 months

Contractors Awarded

117

Last 12 months

YoY Growth

-8.4%

vs. prior 12 months

Top contractors

Companies with the highest total award value under NAICS 513120, ranked by dollars won.

Top agencies

Federal agencies directing the most contract spending toward NAICS 513120.

Competition

How many companies historically bid on federal awards in NAICS 513120, 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. · 982 reported awards

Median Bidders

1

Per reported award, all-time

Single-Bid Awards

88%

Share of reported awards with one bidder

10+ Bidder Awards

1%

Share of reported awards with 10+ bidders

Reported Awards

982

94% of 1,040 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
513120This Code
Periodical Publishers
Usually Single-Bid188%
98294% of 1,040
51312NAICS Industry
Usually Single-Bid188%
98294% of 1,040
5131Industry Group
Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
Usually Single-Bid185%
2,13189% of 2,394
513Subsector
Usually Single-Bid159%
40,13891% of 43,901
51Sector
Information
Usually Single-Bid162%
753,76488% of 859,372

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 Periodical Publishers, by shared sector, subsector, and industry group.

Explore contracts across multiple NAICS codes Browse all NAICS Codes

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NAICS 513120 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

NAICS code 513120 covers Periodical Publishers. This industry comprises establishments known either as magazine publishers or periodical publishers. These establishments carry out the operations necessary for producing and distributing magazines and other periodicals, such as gathering, writing, and editing articles, and selling and preparing advertisements. These establishments may publish magazines and other periodicals in print or electronic form, including exclusively on the Internet. Illustrative Examples: Comic book publishers Magazine publishers Scholarly journal publishers Newsletter publishers Trade journal publishers Cross-References.

Recently Posted in Periodical Publishers

NAICS: 513120
Federal
Serial subscription support
Solicitation # 50310227Q0004
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission is soliciting quotes under solicitation 50310227Q0004 for the management and renewal of its serial subscription collection for the 2027 calendar year. This requirement, classified under NAICS code 513120, is 100 percent set aside for small businesses. The scope of work involves the procurement and administration of electronic and print serials, including electronic journals and commercial off-the-shelf information products. The selected contractor will be responsible for executing new and renewal orders, managing licenses and user authorizations, and providing a web-based serials management system for online claiming and analytical reporting. Key performance requirements include placing standard orders within five business days and rush orders within 24 hours of receipt. Award decisions will be based on a comparative evaluation of technical capability, price, and past performance to determine the most advantageous offer. Interested small businesses must submit a technical quote limited to seven pages and a completed pricing spreadsheet via email to the designated point of contact by November 19, 2026. Invoicing is conducted through the SEC Delphi eInvoicing web-portal, and software license maintenance or subscriptions may be invoiced at the start of the performance period. The contract incorporates various Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses, including those regarding small business set-asides, contractor whistleblower rights, and prohibitions on contracting with inverted domestic corporations.
Securities And Exchange Commission

POSTED

9 days ago

DEADLINE

in 13 days
View Details
NAICS: 513120
Awarded
Federal
7630--EBSCO Discovery Services Electronic Medical Library Subscription Base Plus Four Option Years
Solicitation # 36C25227Q0039
The Department of Veterans Affairs is soliciting a firm-fixed-price contract for the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) to support the William S. Middleton VAMC in Madison, Wisconsin. This comprehensive platform provides a single point of entry for searching and retrieving digital materials and will include subscriptions to MEDLINE ULTIMATE, as well as medical and nursing eBook collections. The contractor is responsible for the remote installation of the product, seamless integration into the VA SharePoint environment, and the provision of on-site training, job aids, and promotional materials for facility staff. Ongoing technical support will include website customization, troubleshooting, and database upgrades for CINAHL and MEDLINE Complete. The contract is structured as a base year starting November 1, 2026, with four subsequent option years, extending the potential period of performance through October 31, 2031. This procurement is a total set-aside for certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs), and award decisions will be based on the most advantageous offer considering price, technical capability, and past performance. Invoices must be submitted electronically in arrears, either annually or upon receipt, with payments made via Electronic Funds Transfer. The contractor must adhere to strict guidelines regarding organizational conflicts of interest and security prohibitions concerning specific foreign telecommunications equipment.
252-NETWORK Contract Office 12 (36C252)

POSTED

17 days ago

DEADLINE

N/A
View Details

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