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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 – February 2026

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

Implementation and Maintenance of Pump Station Control Systems and
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Software
Agency: Port of Long Beach
Bid Due Date: January 29, 2026
Link: PlanetBids Vendor Portal

AI Solutions for Transcription and Transcribing Services for the Department of Social Services
Agency: County of Riverside
Bid Due Date: January 30, 2026
Link: Bid Details

Window Screen Repair and Replacement Services 
Agency: Dept of Veteran Affairs
Bid Due Date: February 3, 2026
Link: Bid Details

Painting and General Repair Services in San Bernardino County
Agency: Dept of Transportation
Bid Due Date: February 3, 2026
Link: Bid Details

Painting and General Repair Services in San Bernardino County
Agency: County of Riverside
Bid Due Date: February 10, 2026
Link: Bid Details

Staffing Services 
Agency: County of Orange
Bid Due Date: February 16, 2026
Link: Bid Details

Stormwater Infrastructure Master Plan Update 
Agency: Port of Long Beach
Bid Due Date: February 25, 2026
Link: PlanetBids Vendor Portal

F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant Administration and Control Buildings Seismic Upgrades and Building Improvements

Agency: Metropolitan Water District
Bid Due Date: March 3, 2026
Link: PlanetBids Vendor Portal

Mojave River Forks Regional Park Restroom and Shower Replacement 
Agency: County of San Bernardino
Bid Due Date: March 4, 2026
Link: Bid Details

On-Call Paving Services
Agency: County of San Bernardino
Bid Due Date: March 9, 2026
Link: Bid Details

Contracting 101: Essentials for Beginners (2-Day Series)
February 12, 2026
Register Here

Financing Your Contracts: Working Capital Solutions
February 26, 2026
Register Here

Bidding 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Winning Contracts (2-Day Series)
March 5, 2026
Register Here

Contracting Conversations: Doing Business with the City of Moreno Valley
March 11, 2026
Register Here

County of San BernardinoCAPPO Conference and Supplier Expo
February 2026
San Diego
Register Here

Caltrans Procurement and Resource Fair
April 17, 2026
Compton, CA
More Details

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.