How do the NAICS codes affect federal procurement and regulatory activities, such as those carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency, OSHA, the Department of Defense, and the General Services Administration?

• NAICS was developed specifically for the collection and publication of statistical data to foster the comparability of economic estimates for Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The NAICS categories and definitions were not developed to meet the needs of procurement and/or regulatory applications. However, other federal agencies and other organizations have adopted NAICS for procurement and regulatory purposes even though it does not entirely fit their specific needs. For questions regarding these agencies’ use of the NAICS system, contact the specific agency. [SOURCE: US NAICS MANUAL]