How we got our numbers

The Washington Technology 2013 Top 100 is based on an analysis of data from the Federal Procurement Data System–Next Generation. We analyzed the data according to a set of 770 product service codes that government agencies assign their expenditures of more than $3,000.

Our goal in picking those codes is to capture the range of technology work and mission expertise that contractors provide to the federal government. Many of the codes might not seem directly related to systems integration or IT, but IT is what gets the work done.

The data analyzed covers the 2012 government fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. We did not count obligations generated since that date.

As part of our analysis, we factor in mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, rolling that data up under the parent company.

As you look at the rankings, keep these factors in mind:

The rankings reflect only prime contracts, so subcontracts are not included because data is not collected on subcontracts.

Agencies report contract obligations that are worth more than $3,000 and are obligated to prime contractors. This represents spending on a contract during the time period analyzed, not the contract's life.

General Services Administration schedule transactions of more than $3,000 are included, but some agencies are better at reporting their GSA spending than others.

Companies should encourage contracting officers to make accurate and timely reports to FPDS-NG.

Intelligence agencies, the U.S. Postal Service, and congressional agencies are not required to report their spending to FPDS-NG