Our proven track record speaks for itself: over the last five years Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE MC) has met or exceeded nearly all its federal small-business targets.
If you are ready to bring your innovation, technology, and quality solutions to support our warfighters, the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) is ready to help you navigate the process.
1. The Office of Small Business Programs
2. Does the PAE MC OSBP award contracts?
3. What PAE MC Buys
4. Obtain a UEI Number, Register in the SAM, and Obtain a CAGE Code
5. Identify Your Products or Services
6. Register Your Company in Lynx
7. Familiarize Yourself with Federal, DoW, and Navy Contracting Procedures
8. Identify the PAE Marine Corps Capability Portfolio or Program that Purchases Your Product or Service
9. Attend Conferences/Events
10. Identify Current & Future Marine Corps & Navy Procurement Opportunities
11. Explore Subcontracting Opportunities
12. Seek Additional Assistance as Needed in the Navy & DoW Marketplace
The PAE MC OSBP serves as the principal advocate and gateway for small businesses. Our primary role is to support the Commandant’s mission of equipping the warfighter by ensuring the Marine Corps maintains a robust, competitive, and successful Small Business Program.
By actively promoting prime and subcontracting opportunities, we foster industry innovation, accelerate technology development, and secure quality products and services. The OSBP actively champions agile small businesses to deliver rapid, cutting-edge solutions that directly align with the evolving operational requirements of our Marines and Sailors.
No. The OSBP does not directly award contracts or procure services.
However, we serve as your strategic partner and advisor. We provide small businesses with strategic insights, acquisition guidance, and the necessary resources to navigate the procurement process. Our team connects you directly with the appropriate programs, requirements, and procurement pathways within the PAE MC, so you are fully prepared to bid on and win competitive contracts.
At its core, PAE MC equips Marines with everything they drive, shoot and wear. Our primary mission is the Marine in harm's way, protecting them and providing our warfighters with the decisive technological advantage to win. PAE MC's team of professional civilian Marines and active-duty Marines, work across the entire acquisition lifecycle to research, develop, test, procure, and sustain cutting-edge systems and equipment - whatever it takes to get our warfighters what they need, when they need it, efficiently, and for the best value possible.
Using streamlined, innovative business processes, we provide timely and consistent quality systems that enable Marines to shoot straighter, move faster, and communicate more effectively, ensuring our forces are fully equipped to win battles in every clime and place.
To be awarded a contract from PAE MC, your business must have an active registration in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
• System for Award Management (SAM): SAM.gov is the official, free website of the U.S. government to register to do business, update or renew your entity registration, and search for active opportunities. There is no cost to register in SAM.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): The UEI is assigned directly and for free through SAM.gov during the registration process.
• Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code: This five-character alphanumeric code uniquely identifies your specific business facility and location. It is used across various government databases to support automated payments, facility clearances, and bidder tracking. The CAGE Code request process is fully integrated into SAM.gov. Once you submit and complete your SAM registration, your information is routed to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which will automatically assign your CAGE Code.
Before pursuing opportunities, you must identify the specific North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes and Product and Service Codes (PSC) that apply to your business offerings.
• NAICS Codes: categorize your business by its broader industry and economic activity.
• PSC Codes: describe the exact end-item, service, or research and development (R&D) activity that the military is procuring.
Most federal solicitation listings, long-range acquisition forecasts, and set-aside opportunities are tracked and published using these specific codes. Identifying them early is the foundation of your federal marketing strategy.
To maximize your visibility across the defense market, small businesses are highly encouraged to register on LYNX, the Department of War's premier digital market research and supplier intelligence platform.
LYNX serves as a vital bridge between commercial innovators and defense acquisition professionals by helping you:
• Build a Secure Profile: Establish a credible, comprehensive company profile that highlights your unique capabilities, facilities, and past performance directly to government buyers.
• Assess Defense Readiness: Complete in-depth readiness assessments that identify business growth areas and generate AI-informed roadmaps aligned with military requirements.
• Discover Teaming Partners: Leverage advanced matching algorithms to discover potential prime contractors, joint-venture partners, and subcontracting opportunities
To successfully navigate defense acquisitions, small businesses must understand the regulatory frameworks that govern our purchasing:
• The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): The foundational rules governing all federal government purchasing.
• The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS): Department of War (DoW) specific rules and clauses built upon the FAR.
• The Navy Marine Corps Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NMCARS): Department of the Navy-specific rules and policies that directly govern PAE MC procurements.
• Navigating the Defense Marketplace:
For comprehensive, up-to-date guidance, training materials, and outreach resources designed to help your business transition into the defense sector, visit the DoW Office of Industrial Base Growth.
The Marine Corps has modernized its acquisition structure with the establishment of the PAE Marine Corps. Our acquisition efforts are strictly aligned to the Commandant's modernization priorities and organized into specific Capability Portfolios.
To successfully do business with PAE Marine Corps, you must identify which specific portfolio aligns with your technology, product, or service:
• Align with a Capability Portfolio: Review our core Capability Portfolios (such as C5ISRT, Protect, Sustain/Enable, Maneuver, and Fires) to see exactly where your solution fits. You can view the full breakdown of our portfolios and their subordinate systems on the PAE Marine Corps Organization Page.
• Connect with our Small Business Professionals (SBPs): Once you have identified your target portfolio, our SBPs serve as your primary advocates. They can provide targeted counsel on upcoming procurements within that specific portfolio and help navigate your entry into the Marine Corps market.
• Review Long Range Acquisition Estimates (LRAE): To project future Marine Corps requirements before solicitations are released, review our standardized Long Range Acquisition Estimates.
To help industry partners stay engaged and informed, the Department of the Navy (DON) OSBP regularly publishes upcoming opportunities, matchmaking events, and industry days. Small business vendors are encouraged to actively monitor these schedules to connect with acquisition professionals and explore upcoming requirements.
You can view current events and briefings on the DON OSBP Outreach Page.
You can identify current procurement opportunities in your specific product or service area by monitoring SAM.gov.
To filter your search for specific PAE MC contracts, enter the following Department of Defense Activity Address Codes (DoDAACs) into the search bar:
• PAE MC & Marine Corps Systems Command: M67854
• Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA): M68909
Broader Defense Opportunities:
• Department of War (DoW): Visit the DoW Office of Small Business Programs to learn more about the fundamentals of Doing Business with the DoW and to explore enterprise-wide subcontracting opportunities.
• Department of the Navy (DoN): We highly recommend reviewing broader DoN buying activity missions, long-range acquisition forecasts, and specific requirements to strategically align your capabilities with future needs.
Regardless of your product or service, it is critical that you do not overlook the federal secondary market: subcontracting with major Department of War Prime Contractors. We highly encourage small businesses to team with established primes as a pathway into defense acquisitions.
To locate these opportunities and connect with decision-makers, we recommend the following approaches:
• Targeting Prime Contractors: Businesses should actively research recent contract awards via SAM.gov to identify active primes operating within their specific NAICS codes. Once identified, visit the prime contractor's website to register in their vendor portal and connect with their Small Business Liaison Officer. For broader, enterprise-wide subcontracting policy and guidance, visit the DoW Subcontracting Program Guides.
• SBA SUB-Net System: The Small Business Administration's SUB-Net platform serves as a central database where large prime contractors, government agencies, and educational institutions post specific subcontracting solicitations and notices. This is a vital tool for locating immediate, actionable teaming opportunities.
There are excellent federal and state resources specifically designed to provide you with technical assistance:
• APEX Accelerators: APEX Accelerators are the premier resource for businesses interested in selling to federal, state, and local governments. These local centers provide free or low-cost technical assistance to help you determine your readiness, navigate complex registrations, evaluate certification eligibility, research past opportunities, and develop competitive bid proposals.
• Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA offers extensive resources through the SBA Learning Platform. Eligible businesses can also take advantage of specialized programs like Empower to Grow (E2G) which offers customized, high-level training in federal contracting, bid preparation, and contract compliance.
Once you have identified your target customers, researched their requirements, and familiarized yourself with PAE MC acquisition regulations, it is time to actively market your product or service.
Your first capabilities presentation should be made directly to the PAE MC OSBP. Our office serves as your primary advocate and the central entry point to our PAE MC. They will help evaluate your offerings, provide pertinent information regarding our LRAEs, and, if applicable, route your capabilities to the appropriate Capability Portfolios and technical representatives.
When preparing to market your firm to PAE MC, keep the following strategic principles in mind:
• Self-Align Prior to Contact: Tailor your capabilities brief to clearly demonstrate how your product or service supports our core Capability Portfolios. Knowing where you fit beforehand makes it easier for our SBPs to route your information to the right technical teams.
• Leverage Long Range Estimates: Utilize the LRAE to align your marketing timeline with upcoming scheduled procurements and requirements.
• Demonstrate Past Performance: PAE Marine Corps seeks high-quality, timely, and cost-effective solutions to support the warfighter in harm's way. A proven track record of outstanding past performance—whether as a prime contractor or a subcontractor—is one of your most valuable assets when marketing to our command.