Your next customer could be a city or state agency. Start with a buyer that already purchases what your business sells. A caterer might search for “meal service” and “event catering.” A translation firm might try “language access” and “interpretation.” The goal is to find one open opportunity you can deliver and price with confidence.
Find your state
A real bid walkthrough from Charlotte Water
Closed example for training. Charlotte Water’s wastewater treatment chemicals bid, FY23-ITB-11, closed May 25, 2023. Use the original documents below to see how a buyer turns a short listing into a set of submission requirements.
- Search and check the status. Open Charlotte Contract Opportunities. Try the exact reference number or the keyword “chemicals.” For a new bid, filter to current opportunities where available and confirm the status on the notice itself. This listing says Complete. A forecast signals possible future work, and an award notice records a decision.
- Find the deadline and delivery method on page 1. The original invitation required a sealed bid delivered to Charlotte Water by 10 a.m. on May 25, 2023, with the time labeled EST in the packet. It listed no pre-bid meeting. For your bid, copy the date, time zone, address or upload destination, and any earlier question or meeting deadline into your calendar. Ask the buyer through the listed channel if the time zone is unclear.
- Make a bid or pass decision before pricing. The pricing sheet lists full tanker loads for several products and requires per-gallon prices that include equipment, labor and delivery. Confirm your supplier, delivery capacity and all-in cost before quoting. For your own bid, also check whether the buyer requires registration, insurance, licenses, references, or a specific certification by the deadline.
- Open the addendum and mark what changes. Charlotte Water’s Addendum No. 1 answered questions about earlier bids and pricing. The original packet required bidders to acknowledge issued addenda. For a live bid, track every addendum by number and recheck for revised forms, deadlines and specifications before signing.
- Build the packet from Section 4. This invitation called for a bid submission form, addenda acknowledgment, pricing sheet, references and a safety assessment, among other forms. Build a row for each required item with its page number, owner and status. Use the buyer’s delivery instructions, then keep a copy of the final response and any delivery receipt.
Copy this worksheet for your next bid
Download the bid worksheet (CSV).
Copy the blank column into a document or spreadsheet. Update it each time the buyer posts an addendum.
| What to record | Charlotte Water example (closed) | Your bid |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer, title and solicitation ID | Charlotte Water · Wastewater Treatment Chemicals · FY23-ITB-11 | ___ |
| Question deadline and channel | Page 1 directs questions to the procurement officer in writing. Check the full packet for the cutoff. | Date, time zone and channel ___ |
| Submission deadline and method | May 25, 2023, 10 a.m. (EST as printed). Sealed delivery to Charlotte Water. | Date, time zone and method ___ |
| Registration, eligibility and meeting | No pre-bid meeting listed. Section 4 includes references and a safety assessment. | Requirement, owner and status ___ |
| Pricing unit and cost inputs | Per gallon on the pricing sheet, including equipment, labor and delivery. | Unit, quantity and cost inputs ___ |
| Addenda and required forms | Addendum No. 1 answered bidder questions. Section 4 includes an acknowledgment form. | Addendum numbers, forms and signatures ___ |
| Submission proof | For sealed delivery, record the handoff time and retain any receipt the buyer provides. | Receipt, confirmation number or timestamp ___ |
A service-business pricing example
Hypothetical cleaning bid. A city asks for three visits per week for 52 weeks. The owner estimates two labor hours per visit and checks whether the buyer provides equipment and supplies. The bid form asks for an annual price.
- Labor: 2 hours × $30 in loaded labor cost = $60 per visit.
- Supplies and travel: $8 + $7 = $15 per visit.
- Allocated insurance and overhead: $10 per visit, based on the business’s own estimates.
- Estimated cost: $85 × 156 visits = $13,260. Adding a 15% markup on cost gives an illustrative annual bid of $15,249.
Before quoting, confirm the cleaning schedule, what happens on holidays, required insurance limits and whether periodic deep cleaning is included. Price in the unit the bid form requests and keep your calculations on file.
Before you submit your own bid
- Confirm the opportunity is open and record the solicitation ID, question deadline and submission deadline with time zone.
- Verify the vendor account can submit and resolve any eligibility or mandatory meeting requirement.
- Check every addendum, signature, pricing unit, file format and attachment against the latest instructions.
- Submit early and save the confirmation number, timestamp or delivery receipt.
After you submit
- Confirm receipt. Save the timestamp, confirmation number and submitted files. If the portal still shows Draft or gives no confirmation, follow the buyer’s support instructions promptly. Check the solicitation before attempting a second submission.
- Track the decision. Return to the official listing using the solicitation ID. Watch for addenda, clarifications, an intent to award, or the final award notice. Keep your supplier contact details current.
- Learn from the result. Look for a bid tabulation or published evaluation summary. If the buyer offers a debrief, use the listed process and check any request deadline. Compare your response with the published criteria and record what to improve for the next bid.
Seven city and state bid portals
- New York State — Search the New York State Contract Reporter. If the buyer is New York City, start with NYC PASSPort.
- Texas — Use the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs purchasing page for that agency, or search the statewide Electronic State Business Daily.
- Minnesota — Open the Office of State Procurement solicitation page for current postings and the Supplier Portal.
- California — Start at the Department of General Services Procurement Division, or go straight to Cal eProcure for the California State Contracts Register.
- South Carolina — Start at Bidding Opportunities. Check the notice for submission instructions and use SCPro supplier registration when directed.
- Charlotte, North Carolina — Start at Doing Business with the City and open Contract Opportunities. Check whether the listing is an active solicitation or an upcoming forecast.
- Atlanta, Georgia — Use the ATL311 guide to finding open bids and follow its directions to ATL Suppliers. Atlanta says suppliers must register and sign in to see full solicitation details.
From search to submission
- Find an open bid. Search the issuing buyer’s portal by keyword, commodity code or solicitation ID. Open the official notice and record the buyer, status, question deadline, bid deadline and time zone. For a city or county, start on its official website and follow its procurement link. School districts, transit authorities and public universities may publish separately.
- Check registration and eligibility. Confirm which account the buyer requires and when it must be active. Read the solicitation for any licenses, insurance, bonding, references, geographic restrictions or set-aside requirements. If the opportunity requires a women-owned or other certification, verify that the buyer accepts the specific certification you hold and check when it must be valid.
- Read the solicitation and every update. Download the full package. Mark the scope, deliverables, evaluation criteria, pricing instructions, required forms and any mandatory pre-bid meeting. Use the listed channel to ask questions. Follow the notice for answers and addenda, and acknowledge them if required.
- Build and submit the response. Assign each requirement to a page, form or attachment. Confirm that pricing covers delivery, staffing and payment timing. Check signatures, file formats and the authorized submission method. Submit ahead of the stated deadline and save the portal receipt or other permitted proof of delivery.
WWI perspective. For a first bid, choose work close to what you already deliver. Before assigning staff to write the response, ask whether you can meet every mandatory requirement and cover costs until payment. If the scope is too large, a subcontracting role may be a better entry point. The SBA’s government contracting office points businesses to APEX Accelerators for help selling to government buyers.
Browse all 50 states
State procurement directory
Choose a state below. A link labeled Procurement office leads to the agency’s starting page, where you can find its bid and registration instructions. Follow the issuing agency’s instructions for the specific solicitation. For federal opportunities, use SAM.gov Contract Opportunities.
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
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How do I find Alabama state government bids?
Start at the Alabama state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Alaska state government bids?
Start at the Alaska state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Arizona state government bids?
Start at the Arizona state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Arkansas state government bids?
Start at the Arkansas state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find California state government bids?
Start with Cal eProcure and the California State Contracts Register for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Colorado state government bids?
Start at the Colorado state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Connecticut state government bids?
Start at the Connecticut state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Delaware state government bids?
Start at the Delaware state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Florida state government bids?
Start at the Florida state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Georgia state government bids?
Start with Georgia Procurement Registry for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
Find Georgia Procurement Registry bids. Atlanta uses ATL Suppliers for city opportunities.
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How do I find Hawaii state government bids?
Start at the Hawaii state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Idaho state government bids?
Start at the Idaho state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Illinois state government bids?
Start at the Illinois state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Indiana state government bids?
Start at the Indiana state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Iowa state government bids?
Start at the Iowa state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Kansas state government bids?
Start at the Kansas state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Kentucky state government bids?
Start at the Kentucky state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Louisiana state government bids?
Start at the Louisiana state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Maine state government bids?
Start at the Maine state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Maryland state government bids?
Start with eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Massachusetts state government bids?
Start with COMMBUYS for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Michigan state government bids?
Start at the Michigan state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Minnesota state government bids?
Start with Minnesota Office of State Procurement for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Mississippi state government bids?
Start at the Mississippi state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Missouri state government bids?
Start at the Missouri state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Montana state government bids?
Start at the Montana state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Nebraska state government bids?
Start at the Nebraska state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Nevada state government bids?
Start at the Nevada state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find New Hampshire state government bids?
Start at the New Hampshire state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find New Jersey state government bids?
Start with NJSTART for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find New Mexico state government bids?
Start at the New Mexico state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find New York state government bids?
Start with New York State Contract Reporter for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find North Carolina state government bids?
Start with North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
Search eVP solicitations and register. Charlotte publishes its city opportunities separately.
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How do I find North Dakota state government bids?
Start at the North Dakota state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Ohio state government bids?
Start at the Ohio state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Oklahoma state government bids?
Start at the Oklahoma state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Oregon state government bids?
Start with OregonBuys for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Pennsylvania state government bids?
Start at the Pennsylvania state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Rhode Island state government bids?
Start at the Rhode Island state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find South Carolina state government bids?
Start with South Carolina Business Opportunities and SCPro for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find South Dakota state government bids?
Start at the South Dakota state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Tennessee state government bids?
Start at the Tennessee state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Texas state government bids?
Start with Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Utah state government bids?
Start at the Utah state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Vermont state government bids?
Start at the Vermont state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Virginia state government bids?
Start with Virginia Business Opportunities through eVA for state procurement. Confirm the notice is open and follow its vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Washington state government bids?
Search the Washington WEBS Bid Opportunities calendar for open state solicitations. Use the Department of Enterprise Services registration link below to set up a vendor account.
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How do I find West Virginia state government bids?
Start at the West Virginia state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Wisconsin state government bids?
Start at the Wisconsin state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
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How do I find Wyoming state government bids?
Start at the Wyoming state procurement office below. Look for current solicitations or bid opportunities, then check the issuing agency’s vendor registration and submission instructions.
Directory source: National Association of State Procurement Officials.
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