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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. 

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

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 2025

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

No current bid notices. Please check back!

How to Do Business with Kaiser Permanente
Monday, September 8 | 11 a.m.
Register here.

MWD and IEUA Contractor Academy
Thursday, September 11
Register here.

Contracting 101
Tuesday, September 16 | 8 a.m.
Register here.

Bidding 101 – A Winning Guide to Winning Contracts
Wednesday, September 24 | 11 a.m.
Register here.

San Bernardino County Reverse Vendor Show
Thursday, September 25 | 3:30 p.m.
Register here.

Port of Long Beach
Wednesday, October 1 | 6:30 p.m.
Register here.

CAPPO Conference and Supplier Expo
Tuesday, February 3
Register here.

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.

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.