The City of San Diego is California's second-largest city with an annual procurement budget exceeding $400 million. Contractors, suppliers, and service providers use PlanetBids San Diego to access competitive bidding opportunities across construction, professional services, and commodity purchases.

About PlanetBids San Diego

PlanetBids San Diego serves as the official eProcurement platform for the City of San Diego, featuring:

Construction and public works projects
Professional services RFPs
Vendor registration and compliance management
Electronic bid submission
Contract award tracking

Like other California agencies using PlanetBids such as Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Fresno, San Diego's portal requires separate vendor registration.

How to Access PlanetBids San Diego

Direct Portal URL

URL: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=24931

Alternative Access Methods:

Visit sandiego.gov/purchasing
Click "Bid Opportunities" or "Vendor Portal"
You'll be redirected to PlanetBids San Diego
Use existing PlanetBids login or register as new vendor

Note: San Diego PlanetBids accounts are separate from Riverside County, Kern County, Ontario, and Corona portals.

Complete Vendor Registration Guide for PlanetBids San Diego

Step 1: Create Your Account

Navigate to PlanetBids San Diego portal
Click "Register as New Vendor"
Enter business email address (becomes your username)
Create secure password (min 8 characters)
Click "Continue"

Step 2: Complete Business Profile

Required Information:

Legal business name (as registered with California Secretary of State)
DBA/Trade name (if applicable)
Business address (physical location required)
Mailing address (if different from business address)
Primary contact (name, title, phone, email)
Federal EIN (Tax ID number)

Business Classification:

Business type (Corporation, LLC, Sole Proprietor, Partnership)
Small business certification (if applicable)
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) status
Local Business Enterprise (LBE) status

Step 3: Select Commodity Codes

Choose categories that match your business services:

Construction Categories:

General building construction
Heavy and civil engineering
Specialty trade contractors
Plumbing and HVAC
Electrical contracting
Concrete and paving

Professional Services:

Architectural services
Engineering and surveying
Environmental consulting
IT and technology services
Legal and financial services

Goods and Supplies:

Office equipment and supplies
Vehicle and fleet services
Facility maintenance supplies
Technology hardware and software

Pro Tip: Select all relevant categories to receive notifications for matching opportunities. This same strategy applies to Huntington Beach, Fresno, and other PlanetBids agencies.

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

For All Vendors:

Business license (City of San Diego or California)
Certificate of insurance (general liability)
W-9 tax form

For Construction Contractors:

California Contractor's License (CSLB)
DIR registration number (for public works)
Bonding company letter (capacity verification)
Workers' compensation insurance
Auto insurance (commercial vehicles)

For Professional Services:

Professional licenses (PE, RLA, Architect)
E&O insurance certificate
References from previous public clients

Step 5: Set Up Notifications

Enable email alerts for:

New bid opportunities matching your commodity codes
Addenda and amendments to active bids
Pre-bid meeting notices
Award notifications
Contract opportunities

Step 6: Verify and Activate

Review all entered information for accuracy
Submit your vendor registration
Check email for verification link
Click verification link to activate account
Log in to access bid opportunities

Understanding San Diego's Procurement Thresholds

Micro Purchases ($0 - $5,000)

Direct purchase by departments
Not typically posted on PlanetBids
No formal bidding required

Small Purchases ($5,001 - $60,000)

Informal quotation process
May be posted on PlanetBids San Diego
3-5 vendor quotes requested
Simplified requirements

Formal Bidding ($60,001 - $250,000)

Posted on PlanetBids with detailed specifications
Sealed bid process
Bonding may be required
Prevailing wage compliance (construction)

Large Projects (Over $250,000)

Full formal bidding process
Mandatory pre-bid meetings
Performance and payment bonds required
Detailed technical specifications
Strict submittal requirements
Public bid opening

Types of Opportunities on PlanetBids San Diego

Construction and Public Works

Infrastructure Projects:

Water and sewer main replacement
Street resurfacing and reconstruction
Sidewalk and curb improvements
Storm drain systems
Bridge repairs and seismic retrofits

Facility Construction:

Fire station renovations
Library expansions
Park and recreation facilities
Municipal building upgrades
Lifeguard towers and coastal facilities

Specialty Construction:

Traffic signal installations
Landscape and irrigation
Playground equipment
Athletic field improvements
Parking lot construction

Professional Services

Engineering and Design:

Civil engineering for public works
Structural engineering
Geotechnical studies
Environmental impact reports
Construction management

Consulting Services:

IT and cybersecurity consulting
Financial advisory services
Human resources consulting
Legal services (as-needed)
Grant writing and management

Goods and Commodities

Fleet vehicles and equipment
Office furniture and supplies
Technology hardware
Facility maintenance equipment
Parks and recreation supplies

Key Features of PlanetBids San Diego

Electronic Bid Submission

Submit bids entirely online through the planetbids vendor portal, eliminating need for physical delivery. Similar to Anaheim and Riverside systems.

Plan Holder Reports

View list of registered plan holders (competitors) who downloaded bid documents, helping gauge competition level.

Addenda Management

Automatically receive email notifications when bid specifications change or questions are answered.

Award History Database

Research past contract awards to understand:

Typical winning bid amounts
Successful contractors
Pricing trends
Project scopes

Document Library

Download:

Bid specifications
Technical drawings (PDF)
Standard contract templates
Insurance and bonding forms
Prevailing wage determinations

Tips for Winning San Diego Bids

1. Obtain San Diego Business Certifications

Local Business Preference: The City of San Diego provides 5% bid preference for locally-based businesses. Register for LBE (Local Business Enterprise) status.

SLBE Program: Small Local Business Enterprise certification provides additional contracting opportunities and outreach.

2. Attend Pre-Bid Meetings

Why Attend:

Mandatory for many construction projects
Opportunity to ask clarifying questions
Site visits included (for construction)
Networking with potential subcontractors
Understanding City expectations

What to Bring:

Copy of bid documents
Notepad for taking notes
Business cards
Camera (with permission) for site photos
Measuring tools (construction site visits)

3. Monitor Plan Holder Counts

Competition Assessment:

10-15 plan holders: Moderate competition, good opportunity
15-30 plan holders: Competitive, ensure sharp pricing
30+ plan holders: Highly competitive, differentiate on value
5 or fewer: May indicate specialized requirements or low interest

4. Submit Bids Early

Benefits:

Avoid last-minute technical issues
Time to correct errors
Demonstrates reliability
Reduces stress

Common Technical Issues:

File size limitations (50MB max per file)
Browser compatibility (Chrome recommended)
Network connectivity problems
Incomplete form submissions

5. Read Specifications Thoroughly

Critical Sections:

Scope of work requirements
Submittal requirements (forms, bonds, insurance)
Technical specifications
Special provisions
Prevailing wage requirements
Local hiring provisions

Comparing PlanetBids San Diego to Other Major California Agencies

| Agency | Annual Procurement | Registration Portal | Guide | |--------|-------------------|-------------------|-------| | San Diego | $400M+ | PlanetBids | This guide | | Anaheim | $200M+ | PlanetBids | Anaheim guide | | Fresno | $150M+ | PlanetBids | Fresno guide | | Huntington Beach | $80M+ | PlanetBids | HB guide | | Riverside County | $300M+ | PlanetBids | Riverside guide | | Ontario | $60M+ | PlanetBids | Ontario guide | | Corona | $50M+ | PlanetBids | Corona guide | | Kern County | $250M+ | PlanetBids | Kern guide |

Common Issues and Solutions

Can't Complete Registration

Issue: Registration form won't submit Solution:

Ensure all required fields have red asterisks completed
File uploads must be under 10MB each
Use Chrome or Firefox browser
Disable pop-up blockers

Not Receiving Email Notifications

Issue: Missing bid opportunity alerts Solution:

Check spam/junk folders
Add @planetbids.com and @sandiego.gov to whitelist
Verify email in profile settings
Ensure commodity codes are selected
See PlanetBids login troubleshooting

Account Locked or Password Issues

Issue: Can't access account Solution:

Use "Forgot Password" feature
Contact City of San Diego Purchasing: (619) 236-6000
Contact PlanetBids support: (888) 285-3675

Bid Submission Failed

Issue: Bid won't submit before deadline Solution:

Submit at least 1 hour before deadline
Check all required attachments uploaded
Verify file sizes under limits
Ensure bid bond/insurance uploaded
Try different browser if issues persist

Why ConstructionBids.ai is Better Than Manual PlanetBids Searches

The Manual Search Problem

Contractors working across San Diego County and surrounding regions must:

❌ Create separate accounts for each agency (San Diego, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Ontario, Corona)
❌ Log into multiple portals daily
❌ Manage different passwords and credentials
❌ Risk missing opportunities across agencies
❌ Spend hours searching and filtering

The ConstructionBids.ai Solution

One Platform, All Opportunities:

✅ All PlanetBids agencies (San Diego, Anaheim, Fresno, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Kern County, Ontario, Corona)
✅ Other platforms (CaleProcure, BidSync, DemandStar)
✅ Federal opportunities (SAM.gov contracts)
✅ AI-powered matching to your specific services
✅ Deadline management with email/SMS reminders
✅ Competitive intelligence with award history
✅ Export to Excel/PDF for team sharing

Try ConstructionBids.ai free for 14 days →

Recent Major Projects on PlanetBids San Diego

2024-2025 Notable Awards:

Transportation:

Interstate 805 Interchange Improvements - $28.5M
Balboa Avenue Resurfacing - $14.2M
Traffic Signal Modernization Citywide - $8.7M

Water Infrastructure:

Pure Water Pipeline Expansion Phase 2 - $32.1M
Water Main Replacement District 6 - $12.8M
Pump Station Rehabilitation - $6.4M

Facilities:

Central Library HVAC Modernization - $9.3M
Fire Station 48 Replacement - $11.7M
Balboa Park Museum Renovations - $5.2M

Parks and Recreation:

Mission Bay Park Improvements - $7.9M
Playground Equipment Citywide - $2.1M
Athletic Field Lighting - $3.4M

San Diego Procurement Contact Information

City of San Diego Purchasing and Contracting 1200 Third Avenue, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92101

Main Office: Phone: (619) 236-6000 Email: purchasing@sandiego.gov

PlanetBids Technical Support: Phone: (888) 285-3675 Email: support@planetbids.com

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST

Additional Resources and Related Guides

PlanetBids Platform Guides:

Southern California Agency Guides:

Central California Agencies:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is vendor registration free on PlanetBids San Diego?

Yes, creating a vendor account and accessing bid documents electronically is completely free. Hard copy plans may have reproduction fees.

Do I need a San Diego business license to bid?

For most contracts, yes. You must have either a City of San Diego business license or California business license. Some contracts require local business certification.

What's the difference between San Diego and County of San Diego?

They are separate entities with different procurement systems. This guide covers City of San Diego (PlanetBids). County of San Diego uses a different portal.

Can I use my San Diego login for other cities?

No, PlanetBids San Diego credentials don't work for Anaheim, Fresno, Riverside, or other agencies. Each requires separate registration. Learn more in our PlanetBids login guide.

How long does vendor approval take?

Vendor accounts are typically activated immediately after email verification. However, certification approvals (SLBE, LBE) can take 2-4 weeks.

Do I need to register on PlanetBids to download specifications?

Yes, you must have an active vendor account to download bid documents and receive notifications.

Next Steps to Start Bidding in San Diego

1. Register Today: Follow this guide to complete your PlanetBids San Diego vendor registration.

2. Explore Other Agencies: Don't limit yourself to one city. Expand to Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Riverside, and Fresno.

3. Simplify Your Workflow: Stop logging into multiple portals. ConstructionBids.ai aggregates all agencies into one searchable platform.

Access all California agencies with one search →

PlanetBids San Diego: Complete Vendor Registration and Bid Access Guide 2025