Doing Business with the State

The State of California could be your next – and best—customer. Businesses of all types can find opportunities contracting to California departments and agencies. But landing and delivering on state procurement contracts requires a careful financial and operational strategy. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources to help you pursue this goal.

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Small Business Participation

California’s commitment to supporting small business in state purchasing contracts.

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Get Ready

Take advantage of California’s investment in small business participation in state contracting.

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Get Certified

Your first step in pursuing procurement opportunities.

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Find Contracts

How to research current opportunities at state agencies.

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Find Agency Advocates & Liaisons

Directories of state agency contacts for small businesses.

California’s Commitment to Small Business Participation

In 2022, AB 2019 turned California’s long-standing small business participation goals into state law: a minimum of 25% of all contracts from each state agency must now be assigned to certified small businesses and 3% to Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises.

Existing law already required each agency to identify a small business liaison responsible for responding to complaints from small businesses and helping to support participation goals. AB 2019 added to this by requiring each small business liaison to develop an “economic equity first” action plan and policy for the agency to make sure small businesses are effectively involved and benefiting from the agency’s procurement process.

The legislation required that the action plan and policy be adopted by January 1, 2024 as part of a general outreach effort to all small businesses, especially business enterprises owned by women, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community.

Source of Truth on Procurement

Get Ready

Department of General Services Procurement Division

Responsible for setting state procurement policies and providing purchasing services. It delegates purchasing authority; sponsors the Small Business Council; and participates in the Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise Council.

Office of Small Business and DVBE Services

The state’s certifying agency that administers the small business, small business for the purpose of public works, and DVBE certification programs. Check here for an explanation of certification types and FAQs about the process.

APEX Accelerators

Formerly known as Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, APEX Accelerators offer one-on-one counseling for businesses interested in government contracting, including how to identify and target appropriate local, state and federal agencies.

Get Certified

African American couple high-fiving at computerGet Registered/Certified
The State of California provides Small Business (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certifications to give preferred status in government. Certification is completed online within the Cal eProcure system and requires the submission of a few standard business documents. Benefits include:

  • Inclusion in the state’s goal to spend 25 percent of all contract dollars with Small Businesses and 3 percent with DVBEs
  • A  5 percent bid preference on applicable state solicitations
  • Access to contract opportunities exclusively available to certified businesses
  • Coverate under the Prompt Payment Act

Find Contracts

woman of color sitting at conference tableCal eProcure system
The Cal eProcure system is the State of California’s home for state procurement programs. Through this system business owners can learn how to sell to the State, get certified, search for other certified firms, and search bid opportunities.

Agency Advocates & Liaisons

group of multi-ethnic business people standingFind Agency Advocates
Almost every agency and department in the state of California has a small business (SB) and disabled veteran business enterprise (DVBE) advocate. The SB/DVBE Advocates help SBs and DVBEs pursue contract opportunities with the department they work for and work closely with the buyers in their department to include SBs and DVBEs in state procurement.

Woman Working at desk talking on phoneFind Agency Small Business Liaisons
Each state agency that significantly regulates or impacts small business must designate at least one person to serve as a small business liaison. This person is responsible for responding to complaints received by the agency from small businesses and making sure that the agency meets or exceeds the mandated goal of 25% small business participation. Legislation passed in the 2022-23 session also requires Liaisons to develop “economic equity first” action plans to provide strategies that help disadvantaged business enterprises benefit from the procurement process.

More Resources from CalOSBA

Source Diverse, Source Local
A public-private collaboration to strengthen an inclusive procurement and resilient California-based supply chain. The Source Diverse Source Local initiative will help meet the needs of California’s supply chain by supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in California’s procurement by taking the necessary steps to increase our dollars spent with diverse and/or local California businesses

Small Business Resources
Find a list of all state agencies, as well as Chambers of Commerce and selected Community Partners.

California Office of the Small Business Advocate
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95814
Contact CalOSBA
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