OpenGov Procurement (formerly ProcureNow and Periscope) serves hundreds of government agencies across the United States, posting billions in annual construction and service contracts. Contractors who master this platform gain access to municipal, county, school district, and special district opportunities often overlooked by competitors.
This guide covers everything you need to know about finding and winning construction bids through OpenGov Procurement.
Understanding OpenGov Procurement
Platform Background
OpenGov acquired several procurement platforms—including ProcureNow and Periscope—consolidating them into OpenGov Procurement. The platform serves local government agencies seeking modern eProcurement capabilities.
Key Characteristics:
- Cloud-based procurement management
- Used by municipalities, counties, school districts, and special districts
- Supports formal bids, RFPs, quotes, and informal procurement
- Integrated vendor management and compliance tracking
- Growing user base across all 50 states
Agencies Using OpenGov
Municipal Governments:
- City procurement departments
- Municipal utilities
- Parks and recreation departments
- Public works agencies
County Governments:
- County purchasing departments
- Sheriff's offices and public safety
- County road departments
- Health and human services
School Districts:
- K-12 school construction and maintenance
- Transportation departments
- Food service procurement
- Technology purchases
Special Districts:
- Water and sewer districts
- Fire protection districts
- Library districts
- Transit authorities
Types of Opportunities
Construction-Specific:
- Building construction and renovation
- Infrastructure projects
- Road and utility work
- Facility maintenance
- HVAC and electrical upgrades
Procurement Methods:
- Formal sealed bids (construction over threshold)
- Requests for Proposals (design-build, qualifications-based)
- Informal quotes (below bid threshold)
- Job order contracting
- Cooperative purchasing
Getting Started with OpenGov
Registration Process
Creating Your Account:
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Navigate to OpenGov Procurement Access through individual agency portals or the central OpenGov vendor network.
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Complete Company Profile
- Legal business name
- Federal Tax ID (EIN)
- Business address
- Contact information
- Business entity type
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Add Commodity Codes Select NIGP or UNSPSC codes matching your services:
- Construction categories
- Specialty trades
- Related services
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Upload Documentation
- Business licenses
- Insurance certificates
- W-9 form
- Certifications (DBE, MBE, WBE, etc.)
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Set Notification Preferences Configure alerts for matching opportunities.
Agency-Specific Registration
Important Note: OpenGov serves multiple independent agencies. While your vendor profile may be shared, each agency may require:
- Separate registration approval
- Agency-specific qualification documents
- Local business certifications
- Additional compliance documentation
Best Practice: When pursuing opportunities with a new agency, verify your registration status and complete any agency-specific requirements before bid deadlines.
Navigating the Platform
Dashboard Overview
After login, the dashboard displays:
Open Opportunities:
- Active solicitations matching your commodity codes
- Bid deadlines and status
- Quick access to documents
My Bids:
- Submissions in progress
- Submitted bids
- Award notifications
Messages:
- Agency communications
- Addenda notifications
- Q&A responses
Profile Status:
- Registration completeness
- Document expiration alerts
- Compliance reminders
Finding Bid Opportunities
Search Methods:
Keyword Search: Search by project description, agency name, or specific terms.
Commodity Code Filtering: Browse opportunities by NIGP or UNSPSC classification codes relevant to construction.
Geographic Filtering: Limit results by state, county, or specific agencies.
Date Filtering: View upcoming deadlines or recently posted opportunities.
Search Tips:
- Use broad terms initially, then narrow
- Check multiple commodity codes for your work
- Set up saved searches for repeat use
- Enable email notifications for matching bids
Understanding Solicitation Types
Invitation to Bid (ITB): Formal sealed bid—award to lowest responsive, responsible bidder.
- Price-based evaluation
- Must meet all specifications
- No negotiation
Request for Proposal (RFP): Competitive negotiated procurement—evaluation includes factors beyond price.
- Technical qualifications evaluated
- Price is one factor (varies by weighting)
- May include interviews or presentations
Request for Qualifications (RFQ): Qualifications-based selection—typically for professional services.
- Used for design-build and CM-at-Risk
- Qualifications evaluated first
- Price negotiated after selection
Informal Quotes: Below formal bid threshold—streamlined process.
- Faster timeline
- Simpler documentation
- Good entry point for new vendors
Submitting Bids Through OpenGov
Reviewing Solicitation Documents
Document Package:
- Solicitation notice and instructions
- Scope of work / specifications
- Drawings and plans (for construction)
- Bid form / pricing sheets
- Contract terms and conditions
- Required certifications and forms
Critical Review Items:
- Submission deadline (time zone!)
- Required documents checklist
- Mandatory pre-bid meeting
- Insurance and bonding requirements
- DBE/MBE participation goals
- Addenda issued
Preparing Your Submission
Bid Form Completion:
- Enter pricing in correct format
- Complete all required fields
- Verify calculations
- Sign where required
Supporting Documents:
- Bid bond (if required)
- License documentation
- Insurance certificates
- DBE commitment forms
- References and qualifications
- Non-collusion affidavit
Electronic Submission Process
Step-by-Step:
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Access Solicitation Navigate to the specific opportunity and select "Submit Response"
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Complete Online Forms Fill in any required online questionnaires or pricing tables
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Upload Documents Attach all required documents per solicitation instructions:
- Use specified file formats (PDF preferred)
- Follow file naming conventions
- Ensure documents are readable
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Review Submission Verify all components are included before finalizing
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Submit Confirm submission before deadline
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Save Confirmation Download or print confirmation receipt with timestamp
Addenda and Clarifications
Monitoring Addenda:
- Check solicitation regularly for addenda
- Acknowledge all addenda before submitting
- Addenda may change scope, deadline, or requirements
Asking Questions: Most solicitations have Q&A periods:
- Submit questions through platform
- Responses posted for all bidders
- Deadline for questions typically before bid deadline
Agency Communication
Q&A Process
Effective Questions:
- Reference specific specification sections
- Ask clear, specific questions
- Avoid questions revealing your bid strategy
- Submit well before deadline
Using Responses:
- Review all Q&A, not just your questions
- Incorporate answers into your bid
- Clarifications may affect pricing
Pre-Bid Meetings
When Required: Some solicitations require attendance—missing means automatic disqualification.
When Optional: Attendance provides valuable information:
- Site conditions
- Agency priorities
- Competition assessment
- Clarification opportunities
Best Practice: Attend even optional pre-bid meetings for significant opportunities. Information gained often impacts bid competitiveness.
Post-Submission Communication
Clarification Requests: Agencies may request clarification after submission:
- Respond promptly
- Stick to factual clarification
- Don't change your bid pricing
Award Notifications: Platform notifications indicate:
- Award to another bidder
- Award to your company
- Rejection or disqualification
- Rebid announcements
Winning Strategies for OpenGov
Bid Selection Criteria
Evaluate Each Opportunity:
Positive Indicators:
- Work matches your capabilities
- Reasonable timeline
- Clear specifications
- Agency has payment reputation
- Competition level manageable
Warning Signs:
- Vague scope of work
- Unrealistic deadlines
- Unusual contract terms
- Many addenda suggesting poor planning
- Historically low award prices
Competitive Positioning
Price Competitiveness: Research historical awards through:
- Agency public records
- Previous bid tabulations
- Freedom of Information requests
Quality Differentiation: When evaluation includes factors beyond price:
- Emphasize relevant experience
- Highlight qualified personnel
- Demonstrate understanding of project
- Provide strong references
Building Agency Relationships
Long-Term Strategy:
- Quality work on initial projects
- Responsive communication
- Professional conduct
- Meet all contract requirements
Vendor Outreach Events: Many agencies host vendor fairs or supplier days:
- Meet procurement staff
- Learn about upcoming projects
- Understand evaluation priorities
- Network with prime contractors
Local Presence Advantages
Local Preference Programs: Many OpenGov agencies offer local business preferences:
- Percentage bid advantages
- Tiebreaker provisions
- Local hiring requirements
Demonstrating Local Commitment:
- Maintain local office/presence
- Hire local workforce
- Use local subcontractors
- Participate in community events
Compliance and Best Practices
Insurance Requirements
Standard Requirements:
- General liability: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
- Auto liability: $1M combined single limit
- Workers' compensation: Statutory limits
- Professional liability: Varies by project type
Verification: Keep insurance certificates current in your OpenGov profile. Expired documentation may prevent bid submission.
Bonding Requirements
Typical Thresholds: Varies by agency—commonly required for projects over:
- $25,000 - $100,000 (varies by jurisdiction)
- Performance bond: 100%
- Payment bond: 100%
Small Project Opportunities: Projects below bonding thresholds offer entry points for contractors building capacity.
Prevailing Wage Compliance
When Applicable:
- Federally-funded projects (Davis-Bacon)
- State prevailing wage laws (varies by state)
- Agency-specific requirements
Documentation:
- Certified payroll submissions
- Correct wage classifications
- Apprenticeship compliance
DBE/MBE/WBE Requirements
Participation Goals: Many projects include disadvantaged business requirements:
- Minimum participation percentages
- Good faith effort documentation
- Certification verification
For Certified Businesses:
- Highlight certifications in profile
- Pursue set-aside opportunities
- Build relationships with primes needing DBE participation
Tracking Multiple Agencies
Challenge of Fragmentation
OpenGov serves hundreds of agencies independently. Contractors pursuing regional opportunities must:
- Register with multiple agencies
- Monitor multiple portals
- Track different deadlines
- Manage varied requirements
Consolidation Strategies
Saved Searches: Create saved searches for each target agency or region.
Email Notifications: Enable alerts for matching opportunities across agencies.
Bid Aggregation: ConstructionBids.ai consolidates OpenGov opportunities alongside other portals:
- Single search across all OpenGov agencies
- Unified bid calendar
- Integrated tracking and alerts
- Historical bid analysis
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Registration Problems
Profile Not Approved:
- Contact agency procurement office
- Verify all required documents uploaded
- Check for agency-specific requirements
Commodity Codes Not Matching:
- Review available code categories
- Add all relevant codes to profile
- Update profile as services change
Submission Issues
Upload Failures:
- Check file size limits
- Verify file format accepted
- Clear browser cache
- Try different browser
Deadline Concerns:
- Submit well before deadline
- Note time zone specified
- Don't wait until last minute
- Have backup submission plan
Post-Submission Questions
Confirming Receipt:
- Download confirmation page
- Check "My Bids" section
- Contact agency if uncertain
Missing Award Notification:
- Check platform messages
- Contact agency procurement
- Request public bid tabulation
Integrating OpenGov with Your Bid Process
Workflow Optimization
Systematic Approach:
- Monitor opportunities through saved searches and alerts
- Evaluate bid/no-bid based on fit criteria
- Download and review all documents thoroughly
- Prepare submission with checklist
- Submit with adequate time buffer
- Track results and analyze outcomes
Combining Sources
OpenGov represents one of many procurement portals. Successful contractors track opportunities across:
- OpenGov/Periscope agencies
- PlanetBids agencies
- BidNet member agencies
- State procurement portals
- SAM.gov federal opportunities
- Direct agency websites
Consolidation Value: ConstructionBids.ai aggregates opportunities from OpenGov and 2,000+ other portals, eliminating the need to monitor each source individually.
Conclusion
OpenGov Procurement provides access to municipal, county, school district, and special district construction opportunities across the country. Mastering the platform requires understanding registration requirements, navigation techniques, and submission best practices.
Start by completing thorough registration with comprehensive commodity codes and current documentation. Build familiarity with the platform through smaller opportunities before pursuing larger projects. Develop relationships with agencies through quality performance and professional engagement.
The contractors who succeed on OpenGov combine platform proficiency with solid estimating, competitive pricing, and reliable project delivery.
Simplify your OpenGov bid tracking. ConstructionBids.ai aggregates OpenGov opportunities alongside 2,000+ other procurement portals. Search once, find opportunities everywhere. Start your free trial and streamline your bid discovery process.
