How to register, certify, and compete in the largest state procurement market in the country.
Last reviewed on May 12, 2026 by the Government.biz editorial team. Verify program details with the California Department of General Services.
California is the largest state economy in the U.S., and its procurement footprint matches. Selling to the state is a distinct discipline from federal contracting: different portal, different certifications, different rules. The good news for small businesses is that California is one of the most small-business-friendly states, with a statutory 25% small business participation goal and a 3% goal for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises that pushes agencies to actively seek certified firms.
This page covers the state-level procurement system. California's local market — counties, cities, the University of California and California State University systems, K-12 districts, and special districts — is even larger in aggregate and runs on separate portals. Treat them as additional, complementary pipelines.
The Department of General Services (DGS) procurement portal at caleprocure.ca.gov. This is where you create a supplier account, search solicitations, submit electronic bids, and apply for SB/DVBE certification. Registration is free.
California's integrated financial system handles purchase orders, contracts, and vendor payments. Your Cal eProcure registration feeds your supplier record into FI$Cal so agencies can transact with you and pay invoices.
The California Multiple Award Schedules program and other Leveraged Procurement Agreements let agencies buy from pre-set schedules. Many CMAS contracts are built on a vendor's existing federal GSA Schedule pricing.
California runs its own certifications through DGS — they are separate from the federal SBA programs. The two that drive the most value:
Because California size standards differ from federal ones, confirm your eligibility under the state definition even if you already qualify as small for federal purposes. See NAICS codes and size standards for how the federal side works, and note that California layers its own gross-receipts and employee tests on top.
California's largest buying centers include transportation (Caltrans), health and human services, corrections, the state university systems, and a very large information-technology footprint coordinated in part through the California Department of Technology. IT, professional services, construction, and facilities services are the categories where small businesses most often find an entry point.
Before you chase a category, study where agencies actually spend. The state publishes contracting and spending data, and the DGS small business advocate network can point you to upcoming opportunities. As with federal work, a focused pursuit of two or three agencies beats a scattershot bid-everything approach.
Create a free supplier account in Cal eProcure, the DGS procurement portal. From there you can find solicitations, submit bids, and apply for SB and DVBE certification. Your record flows into the FI$Cal financial system for orders and payment.
Certified California Small Businesses get a 5% preference applied against competing bids, plus a DVBE incentive of up to 5% for disabled-veteran enterprises. The preference is computed against competitors' prices and is capped by state rules.
No. California's SB and DVBE certifications are state programs administered by DGS and are separate from the SBA's federal certifications. You apply for them through Cal eProcure even if you already hold federal certifications.
The California Multiple Award Schedules program lets agencies order from pre-established schedules, often based on your existing GSA Schedule pricing. If you already hold a GSA Schedule and sell commodities or services California agencies buy, a CMAS contract makes you much easier to purchase from.
Authoritative sources: Cal eProcure and the California Department of General Services, Procurement Division. This page is general information, not legal advice.