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California Construction Bids: Find Government & Private Projects
California's $150+ billion annual construction market offers massive opportunities for contractors of all sizes. ConstructionBids.ai aggregates California construction bids from Caltrans, state agencies, 58 counties, 482 cities, school districts, and private sector sources—all in one searchable platform with AI-powered matching.
:::key-takeaway California by the Numbers:
- $150+ billion in annual construction spending
- 58 counties with active procurement portals
- 482 cities posting bid opportunities
- 1,000+ school districts and special districts
- Caltrans with $15+ billion highway program :::
California Construction Market Overview
California is the largest construction market in the United States:
| Sector | Annual Spending | Key Agencies | |--------|-----------------|--------------| | Transportation | $20+ billion | Caltrans, LA Metro, BART, regional transit | | Education | $15+ billion | UC System, CSU, K-12 districts | | Water/Utilities | $10+ billion | DWR, local water districts | | Healthcare | $8+ billion | OSHPD projects, county hospitals | | Housing | $50+ billion | Private + public housing authorities | | Commercial | $40+ billion | Private sector development |
How to Find California Construction Bids
1. State Government Sources
California State Contracts Register (SCR)
- Primary state procurement portal
- All state agency opportunities
- Searchable by category and region
Caltrans Construction
- Highway and transportation projects
- One of largest transportation budgets nationally
- Prevailing wage requirements
- DBE participation goals
Department of General Services (DGS)
- State building construction
- Major capital projects
- Professional services
2. County Procurement Portals
California's 58 counties maintain individual procurement systems:
| County | Portal | Annual Volume | |--------|--------|---------------| | Los Angeles | LA County e-Procurement | $5+ billion | | San Diego | BuyNet | $1+ billion | | Orange | OC Purchasing | $800+ million | | Riverside | County Purchasing | $600+ million | | San Bernardino | ePro | $500+ million | | Santa Clara | Procurement | $700+ million | | Alameda | GSA Procurement | $500+ million | | Sacramento | Purchasing | $400+ million |
3. City Bid Opportunities
Major California cities with significant construction budgets:
- Los Angeles — Bureau of Contract Administration
- San Diego — Purchasing & Contracting
- San Jose — Public Works
- San Francisco — Office of Contract Administration
- Fresno — Purchasing Division
- Long Beach — Purchasing Division
- Oakland — Contracts & Compliance
4. Special Districts
California has thousands of special districts:
- School Districts — 1,000+ districts, major construction programs
- Water Districts — Infrastructure projects statewide
- Transit Authorities — BART, LA Metro, regional transit
- Healthcare Districts — Hospital construction, OSHPD-regulated
California Public Works Requirements
Contractor Registration
California requires contractor registration for public works:
Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
- Registration required before bidding
- Annual renewal required
- Verify registration status online
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- Valid contractor license required
- License classification for project type
- Bond and insurance requirements
Prevailing Wage
California enforces prevailing wage on public projects:
- Rates set by DIR
- Certified payroll requirements
- Apprenticeship ratios
- Penalty provisions for violations
Small Business Programs
California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)
- 3% participation goal on state contracts
- Certification through DGS
Small Business (SB) Certification
- Preference on state contracts
- Certification through DGS OSDS
ConstructionBids.ai: Simplify California Bid Discovery
Rather than checking dozens of portals manually, ConstructionBids.ai aggregates California opportunities:
California Coverage:
- All state agency portals
- All 58 county procurement systems
- Major city purchasing portals
- School district bid boards
- Special district opportunities
- Private sector projects
AI-Powered Matching:
- Matches opportunities to your license classifications
- Filters by project size and type
- Geographic targeting (regions, counties, cities)
- Real-time alerts for new opportunities
Pricing:
- Starter: $29/month (full California access)
- Professional: $99/month (team features)
- 7-day free trial, no credit card required
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find construction bids in California?
California construction bids are posted across multiple platforms: State Contracts Register (state agencies), Caltrans (transportation), individual county portals (58 counties), city purchasing departments (482 cities), and special districts. ConstructionBids.ai aggregates all these sources in one searchable platform.
What is the California public works contractor registration?
California requires contractors to register with the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) before bidding on public works projects. Registration involves annual fees and confirms compliance with labor law requirements. Additionally, you need a valid license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
How do I bid on Caltrans projects?
To bid on Caltrans projects: 1) Maintain valid CSLB license for project type, 2) Register with DIR for public works, 3) Monitor Caltrans bid advertisements, 4) Attend pre-bid meetings, 5) Submit sealed bid by deadline. Caltrans has DBE participation requirements on federally-funded projects.
What is the prevailing wage in California?
California prevailing wage is the hourly rate including benefits paid to workers on public works projects. Rates are set by DIR based on collective bargaining agreements and surveys. Contractors must pay at least prevailing wage and submit certified payroll records.
Do I need a contractor's license to bid in California?
Yes. California requires a valid Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license to bid on construction projects over $500. The license must be appropriate for the work type (A-General Engineering, B-General Building, or specialty classifications).
What is the California Small Business preference?
California provides preference to certified small businesses on state contracts. Certified SBs receive 5% bid preference and are eligible for set-aside contracts. Certification is through the Department of General Services Office of Small Business and DVBE Services.
How does ConstructionBids.ai cover California?
ConstructionBids.ai aggregates opportunities from the State Contracts Register, all 58 county portals, major city purchasing departments, Caltrans, school districts, and special districts—plus private sector opportunities. AI matching filters to your license classifications and preferences.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. ConstructionBids.ai offers a 7-day free trial with full access to California opportunities—no credit card required. Test the platform against your current bid discovery process.
California Construction Resources
State Agencies:
Regional Resources:
- Southern California Contractors Association
- Associated General Contractors of California
- Construction Employers' Association
Start Finding California Bids Today
California's construction market offers opportunities for every contractor specialty and size. Stop manually checking dozens of portals.
ConstructionBids.ai delivers:
- All California sources in one platform
- AI matching to your capabilities
- Real-time alerts for new opportunities
- Time savings of 10+ hours per week
Start Your Free 7-Day Trial — No credit card required.
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