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Contracting and Procurement

Explore contracting opportunities for small business growth.

Government and corporate procurement can be an incredible opportunity to grow your business revenues in a new and diversified manner. The SBDC Center for Contracting is here to help you with education, training, and one-on-one consulting, all in support of your efforts to win procurement contracts at the federal, state, local, or private level.

Our team of experts has years of industry experience and is able to assist businesses located in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties at no-cost.

Main Strategic Areas

Whether you are new to contracting or if you receive contracts regularly, the SBDC team of contracting experts is here to help you grow your business in the following key strategic areas. 

Research

  • Target market identification
  • NAICS/UNSPSC/SIC codes
  • Market research provided by SBDC Intel
  • Capabilities statement

Business Certifications

  • Public utilities 
  • State of California
  • Private sector 
  • Local municipalities
  • Federal

Research

  • Target market identification
  • NAICS/UNSPSC/SIC codes
  • Market research provided by SBDC Intel
  • Capabilities statement

Business Certifications

  • Public utilities 
  • State of California
  • Private sector 
  • Local municipalities
  • Federal

Contracts and Bids

  • Registering to receive bid notifications
  • Searching for bids
  • Understanding the differences — request for proposal (RFP), request for quote (RFQ), and request for information (RFI)
  • How to read a bid
  • How to submit a bid
  • Researching past performance

Managing a Contract

  • Bonding requirements
  • Department of Industrial Requirements and Worker’s Compensation requirements 
  • Prevailing wage
  • Financing
  • Reporting

Contracts and Bids

  • Registering to receive bid notifications
  • Searching for bids
  • Understanding the differences — request for proposal (RFP), request for quote (RFQ), and request for information (RFI)
  • How to read a bid
  • How to submit a bid
  • Researching past performance

Managing a Contract

  • Bonding requirements
  • Department of Industrial Requirements and Worker’s Compensation requirements 
  • Prevailing wage
  • Financing
  • Reporting

Contracting Bids

Learn about upcoming opportunities for small businesses.

Contracting Connections – September 2026

Contracting Connections is your resource for the latest information on bid notices, contracting trainings, and events.

Bid RFP #DPARC-0681 – Psychological Evaluation Services For Children And Youth
Agency: County of Riverside
Bid Due Date: September 15, 2026 
Link: Public Purchase: Bid RFP #DPARC-0681 – Psychological Evaluation Services For Children and Youth

 

Bid RFP #PKARC-283 – Ecological Restoration Services
Agency: County of Riverside
Bid Due Date: September 03, 2026 
Link: Public Purchase: Bid RFP #PKARC-283 – Ecological Restoration Services 

 


RFP #26/27-005 –  Request For Proposal For Hazardous Waste Removal And Disposal Services
Agency: City of Rancho Cucamonga
Bid Due Date: September 08, 2026 
Link: Planetbids Vendor Portal  

 

8266 – RTRP Block Wall, Fence Construction And Landscape Improvements
Agency: City of Riverside
Bid Due Date: September 15, 2026
Link: Planetbids Vendor Portal  

 

De-26-02 Professional Engineering Services For The Pier A West Coastal Resilience Improvements Project
Agency: Port of Long Beach
Bid Due Date: September 29, 2026
Link: Planetbids Vendor Portal 

 

Radar UAV Detection
Agency: Port of Long Beach
Bid Due Date: September 23, 2026
Link: Planetbids Vendor Portal

Mapes Road Resurfacing Project (Sherman Road To Antelope Road) (CIP 24-20)
Agency: City of Menifee
Bid Due Date: September 07, 2026
Link: Planetbids Vendor Portal

Architect-Engineer (A-E) Cost Estimating Design Support Services – Task Order Contracts
Agency: County of Orange
Bid Due Date: September 18, 2026
Link: Project Overview 

26-20-002 LFP Title And Escrow Services
Agency: Housing & Community Development 
Bid Due Date: September 25, 2026
Link: Event Details   

Replace Drainage, Elect Systems, And Guardrail With Conc Barrier
Agency: Department of Transportation
Bid Due Date: September 24, 2026
Link: Event Details 

2026-018 Architectural Design And Engineering For Mvu Dispatch Center
Agency: City of Moreno Valley
Bid Due Date: September 2026 
Link: Planetbids Vendor Portal

Are You Interested In Becoming A Supplier For The Upcoming 2028 Olympics?
Register Your Business To Be Considered For Future Opportunities Across The Logistics, Hospitality, Events, And Other Industries.

2028 Los Angeles Olympics Supplier Registration Form – Click Here
LA28 – Cleaning And Waste Services – Click Here

Bidding 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Winning Contracts (2-Day Series)
Thursday, August 27 | 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register Here

 

How to do Business with CalTrans
Thursday, September 3 | 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register Here

Doing Business with the City of Temecula
Tuesday, September 29 | 10 a.m. – Noon
Register Here

Contracting 101
October 6-7 | 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Register Here

Doing Business with the County of Riverside: Finding and Winning Contracts Tickets, Wednesday, October 7  •  10 AM – 11:30 AM PDT | Register Here

San Bernardino County Reverse Vendor Show
September 10, 2026
Yucaipa
Purchasing

 

High Desert Small Business Vendor Fair
September 17, 2026
Victorville
Register Here

 

SBIR/STTR Con 2026
September 24, 2026
Riverside
New Registration

 

High-Speed Rail Small Business Diversity and Resources Fair
October 13, 2026
Pasadena
Register Here

 

MWD Metworks
October 15, 2026
Pomona
MetWorks Presents – Where Water Meets Opportunity

2025 Southern California
Contracting Conference

In June, the OCIE SBDC hosted the 2025 Southern California Contracting Conference in Riverside. With more than 30 buyers, 20 agencies, and 20 presenters, the event created opportunities for over 500 attendees to network, connect with agencies and buyers, and learn how to grow their businesses through contracting and procurement.

Unlock New Opportunities

Let the Center for Contracting help you identify opportunities for growth through procurement contracts. Schedule your intake appointment today to get matched up with a contracting and procurement expert, all at no cost.

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Unlock New Opportunities

Let the Center for Contracting help you identify opportunities for growth through procurement contracts.​ Schedule your intake appointment today to get matched up with a contracting and procurement expert.

Schedule your no-cost one-on-one consultation today.

Contracting and Procurement

Mike Daniel is the network director of the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC Network, which assists aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners throughout Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Mike was formerly the director of the SBDC office at Long Beach City College. As business owner and entrepreneur himself, he started his career as the owner of a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory location in Manhattan Beach and went on to open a second location in Long Beach in 2001. In 2007, Mike sold the Manhattan Beach store for an above-market offer then invested in several additional locations as a minority shareholder. Mike further expanded his candy empire with venture located in Shoreline Village in Long Beach called Sugar Daddies Sweet Shoppe, based on fill-it yourself candy options.

Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.