Cal eProcure is California’s free, official portal for state government bids. To find bids on it, you create a Cal eProcure account, register as a bidder, add the UNSPSC codes that describe your work, then search the California State Contracts Register. This guide walks you through each step so you can run your first search today, even if you have never bid on a government contract before.
What is Cal eProcure?
Cal eProcure is the state of California’s online procurement portal, run by the Department of General Services (DGS). It hosts the California State Contracts Register, where state agencies post open bid opportunities. It also handles bidder and supplier registration and small business and DVBE certification. Registration and searching are both free.
Think of it as the front door to state contracts. Before you can receive bid alerts or submit a response to most state solicitations, you need a profile here. You can read more about the portal on the official DGS Cal eProcure page.
How do you register on Cal eProcure to find bids?
To find bids, first register as a bidder at caleprocure.ca.gov. Create a user account, then complete the bidder profile with your business details, contact info, and the UNSPSC codes that match what you sell. Turn on email notifications so the system alerts you about matching contracts. The whole process is free and takes about 30 to 60 minutes.
Here are the steps:
- Create your account. Go to caleprocure.ca.gov and register a new user. You will set a username and password and confirm your email.
- Start bidder registration. Choose to register as a bidder. This is the level that lets you search the California State Contracts Register and get alerts.
- Enter your business details. Add your legal name, address, federal tax ID, and contact information. Have these ready before you start.
- Add keywords and UNSPSC codes. Pick every code that describes your products or services. These decide which bid notifications you get.
- Turn on notifications. Set “Receive Notification” to Yes so the state emails you when a matching bid posts to the register.
Bidder registration is enough to start finding work. When you are ready to actually win a contract and get paid, you complete a separate supplier registration so the state can transact with you through its FI$Cal financial system.
How do you search for bids on Cal eProcure?
Sign in to Cal eProcure and open the California State Contracts Register search. Click Start Search to browse open solicitations from state agencies. You can filter by keyword, UNSPSC code, department, or date. Open any listing to read the full solicitation, note the due date, and download the bid documents.
A simple search routine looks like this:
- Run a broad search first. Use one or two plain keywords for your work, like “IT staffing” or “janitorial,” to see what is currently open.
- Filter by UNSPSC code to narrow results to your exact category.
- Open promising listings and read the scope of work, the evaluation criteria, and the submission deadline.
- Download the solicitation package. This includes the requirements, forms, and instructions you must follow exactly.
- Note the deadline and contact. Government deadlines are firm. A late or incomplete bid is usually disqualified, no matter how strong it is.
Even with notifications on, plan to search by hand regularly. Email alerts depend on your codes being precise, and a single missed code can hide a contract you would have won.
Why does Cal eProcure use UNSPSC codes instead of NAICS?
Cal eProcure classifies work using UNSPSC codes (United Nations Standard Products and Services Code), not the NAICS codes used on the federal SAM.gov system. The codes you add to your profile control which bid alerts you receive. Choose every code that fits your business, because the system only notifies you about categories you select.
Here is how the two systems compare:
| Cal eProcure (California) | SAM.gov (Federal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Classification code | UNSPSC | NAICS |
| What it lists | State agency bids (CSCR) | Federal contracts |
| Cost to register | Free | Free |
| Drives your alerts | Yes, by UNSPSC | Yes, by NAICS |
This is also where keyword-based systems quietly fail. Two agencies can describe the same work with different words and different codes, so a code-and-keyword filter shows you false matches and hides real ones. That gap is the main reason a contract you could win never reaches your inbox.
How do you get certified to win more bids?
Certification is a separate step from registration, and it opens doors that registration alone does not. California aims to direct 25% of contract dollars to certified small businesses and 3% to DVBEs, and certified firms get a 5% bid preference. You apply for certification through Cal eProcure.
The two most common certifications for first-time bidders are:
- Small Business (SB): Your business has 100 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $19 million or less over the past three tax years. Microbusinesses under $5 million get an automatic designation.
- Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE): Your business is at least 51% owned by one or more disabled veterans who have a service-connected disability of 10% or more and live in California.
If you are new to certifications, our guide to California small business certification breaks down each program and how to qualify. For help, you can also call the DGS Office of Small Business and DVBE Services at (916) 375-4940.
Why finding bids on Cal eProcure is only half the job
Cal eProcure only lists state agency bids. Cities, counties, school districts, and special agencies post their work on their own portals, like PlanetBids, LABAVN, and dozens of others. So registering on Cal eProcure solves access to state contracts, but it leaves out most of the local opportunities near you.
That fragmentation is the real cost for small teams. You end up logging into many portals, running the same searches over and over, and still reading dozens of solicitations to find the few worth pursuing. The hours add up fast, and good bids slip past while you are buried in the wrong ones.
FindBids solves the triage problem. It reads every active California government bid, including Cal eProcure and local portals, compares each one to a plain-English profile of your business using meaning-based matching, and ranks them by genuine fit with the reasoning attached. Instead of scanning portals for hours, you see a short, prioritized list and spend your time writing on the contracts you can actually win. You can try it free for 24 hours with no card at app.findbids.us/signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to register and find bids on Cal eProcure?
Yes. Creating a Cal eProcure account, registering as a bidder, and searching the California State Contracts Register are all free. There is no fee to view or download solicitations. You only spend money later if you choose to pursue costs like bonding or insurance for a specific contract.
What is the California State Contracts Register?
The California State Contracts Register, or CSCR, is the official list of open bid opportunities from state agencies. You search it inside Cal eProcure by clicking Start Search. Any business can browse it, but you need an account and matching UNSPSC codes to receive email alerts about new bids.
Do I need to use UNSPSC codes on Cal eProcure?
Yes, if you want bid notifications. Cal eProcure uses UNSPSC codes, not NAICS codes, to classify what you sell. The codes you add to your profile decide which bid alerts you receive by email, so pick every code that fits your work to avoid missing relevant contracts.
What is the difference between a bidder and a supplier in Cal eProcure?
A bidder is registered to search the California State Contracts Register and receive bid alerts. A supplier is registered to actually transact with the state and get paid through FI$Cal. Start as a bidder to find work, then complete supplier registration when you are ready to win and invoice.
Who qualifies for small business certification in California?
A business with 100 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $19 million or less over the past three tax years generally qualifies. Microbusinesses under $5 million get an automatic designation. Certification unlocks set-aside contracts and a 5% bid preference on state solicitations.
How long does it take to start finding bids on Cal eProcure?
You can create an account and run your first search the same day. Bidder registration takes about 30 to 60 minutes once you have your business details and UNSPSC codes ready. Small business or DVBE certification is a separate application that takes longer to review.
Does Cal eProcure list city and county bids?
No. Cal eProcure only lists state agency bids in the California State Contracts Register. Cities, counties, and special districts post on their own portals like PlanetBids and LABAVN. To see local and state bids together, many businesses use a tool that monitors every portal at once.