How government contractors can sell data to AI companies

Government contractors produce large written records of regulated, expert work: proposals answering detailed solicitations, compliance procedures built around federal clauses, and contract administration across years of modifications. AI buyers want records of that kind of work.

Few industries carry as many overlapping restrictions, though. The contract decides who holds rights in the data, information safeguarding rules decide who may see it, and export controls decide whether a buyer's staff may.

What government contractor data do AI companies buy?

AI companies buy government contractor data that shows how expert work is done, and the licensable part is usually the contractor's own corporate material rather than contract deliverables. Proposals, procedures and training materials you created on your own account are the place to start.

Who buys government contractor data?

No buyer whose terms are public publishes a government contractor price or program. micro1 says it licenses data only to labs and enterprises based in the US and allied countries, asks for 30 or more full-time staff and publishes tiers starting at $100,000 to $500,000. Handshake AI gives hardware and engineering examples such as design documentation, specifications and test reports.

Ask every buyer where its staff and subprocessors are, because that answer decides the export control question. A free data valuation tells you which parts of your archive are realistic to license.

Who owns data produced under a federal contract?

Data produced under a federal contract is shared between contractor and government according to the data rights clauses. Under FAR 52.227-14, the government has unlimited rights in data first produced in the performance of the contract, and the contractor needs the Contracting Officer's prior written permission to assert copyright in most of it, other than scientific and technical articles.

Defense contracts work differently. Under DFARS 252.227-7013, the contractor grants the government royalty-free, worldwide, nonexclusive and irrevocable license rights in technical data, from unlimited rights to government purpose rights and limited rights, and all rights not granted to the government are retained by the contractor.

In both cases you cannot give a buyer exclusivity over data the government can already use or authorize others to use. Map each dataset to its contract and clause before you build a data manifest.

You cannot license CUI or covered defense information to an AI company. Under 32 CFR 2002.16(a)(1), CUI may be disseminated only where that abides by the rules that created its category, furthers a lawful government purpose and is not restricted by a limited dissemination control. Training a commercial AI model is unlikely to qualify as one.

DFARS 252.204-7012 requires adequate security on systems holding covered defense information, including the requirements of NIST SP 800-171. Since November 10, 2025, the DFARS CMMC rule, clause 252.204-7021, also requires a current CMMC status for systems that process federal contract information or CUI where the contract calls for one.

Federal contract information, which FAR 52.204-21 defines as information not intended for public release that is provided by or generated for the government under a contract, sits below CUI but is still not public. Systems of records run for an agency carry the Privacy Act: under 5 U.S.C. section 552a(m)(1), the agency must apply the Act's requirements to the contractor's system.

Do export controls apply to a data license?

Export controls apply to a data license whenever controlled technical data is involved, even if the buyer is in the United States. Under 22 CFR 120.50(a)(2), releasing ITAR technical data to a foreign person in the United States is a deemed export, and 15 CFR 734.13(b) treats releasing controlled technology to a foreign person in the United States as a release to that person's most recent country of citizenship or permanent residency.

A buyer's foreign national engineers reviewing a sample can trigger either rule. Check the classification of any technical record and take export control advice before it leaves your systems.

If you hold UK or EU data

UK contractors face UK export controls as well. The Export Control Joint Unit's guidance on GOV.UK says emails containing controlled technology require an export license, that technology uploaded to the cloud and accessed from overseas is a transfer needing a license, and that responsibility lies exclusively with the owner of the technology.

UK government information is handled under the Government Security Classifications Policy, which sorts information into OFFICIAL, SECRET and TOP SECRET and has separate guidance for contractors. Treat anything received under that policy as the government's to release, not yours.

How do you sell government contractor data through Sell My Data To AI?

You start with a consultation about your contracts, their data rights clauses and the systems your records sit in. We do not take custody of your raw data. Buyers see redacted samples under a mutual NDA, and full data moves only after you sign a license directly with the buyer.

Every buyer is verified for company identity, intended use, security and retention commitments and onward transfer limits before seeing a sample. You approve every buyer, every sample and every license term. Book a consultation to start.