Blog
Plain-language guides on federal, state, and local contracting — SAM.gov, set-aside contracts, certifications, and everything else a small business owner needs to know about government contracting. No prior experience required.
Posts
ContractRadar now monitors 12 more city and county procurement portals across 8 states — its first Kansas local (Johnson County), plus Tarrant County, Douglas County, Cedar Rapids, and 8 more high-population jurisdictions.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 12 more city and county procurement portals across 10 states — its first Nebraska and Iowa locals (Lincoln, Davenport), plus DuPage County and 9 more high-population jurisdictions.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 12 more city and county procurement portals across 8 states — its first Minnesota local (Ramsey County), plus Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Washoe County, and 8 more high-population jurisdictions.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors PennBid, the statewide Pennsylvania e-procurement program used by 150+ local agencies across 34 counties — road, water, sewer, and public-works bids from townships, boroughs, authorities, and counties, matched daily.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 4 more local procurement portals — its first New Hampshire local (Nashua), a new live Connecticut city (Norwalk), Sussex County NJ, and fast-growing Palm Bay FL.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 10 more local procurement portals — its biggest batch by population yet, led by Hidalgo County TX and Seminole County FL, plus the first Arkansas local (Little Rock) and first Miami-metro buyer (Hialeah).
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors local procurement portals in more than 100 cities — adding Cape Coral and Palm Coast FL plus six California cities (Vallejo, Richmond, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Downey, Murrieta).
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 10 more local procurement portals across six states — including Ocean County NJ, Anaheim CA, Pittsburgh PA, and Port St. Lucie FL, plus the first New Jersey and Pennsylvania local coverage.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 10 more local procurement portals across five states — Brownsville and Waco TX, Sandy Springs GA, Bend OR, Monroe County FL, and four California cities.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 10 more city and county procurement portals across eight states — including Austin TX, Pierce County WA, Indianapolis IN, Baltimore County MD, and the first local coverage for Connecticut and Alabama.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 10 more county and city procurement portals across five states — Galveston County and Frisco/McKinney TX, Vancouver WA, Peoria/Tempe AZ, Toledo OH, and Santa Clarita/Glendale/Santa Rosa CA.
Read more →ContractRadar monitors ten more city and county procurement portals — Bakersfield, Fresno, Riverside, San Bernardino, Long Beach, Scottsdale, Sioux Falls, Wichita, Bexar County, and Rockland County.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 5 more city procurement portals across three states — Tallahassee FL, Amarillo and Grand Prairie TX, and Ontario and Palmdale CA.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 10 more county and city procurement portals — Gwinnett, Forsyth, and Columbia counties in Georgia, plus Arlington and Lubbock TX, Joliet IL, and Irvine, Fontana, Oxnard, and Huntington Beach CA.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 9 more county and city procurement portals — Bergen County NJ, Suffolk County NY, Mecklenburg County NC, Fort Bend County TX, Jackson County MO, Montgomery County TN, plus Reno, Santa Ana, and Chula Vista.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors 52 more city and county procurement portals — Allegheny County, Wake County, Seattle, Washington DC, Tampa, Richmond, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Newport News, Boulder County, Brazoria County, and more.
Read more →Guide to City of Phoenix government contracts: how the city's procurement portal works, the SBE program, water/aviation/public-works buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Phoenix daily.
Read more →Guide to Orange County, California government contracts: how the county's procurement portal works, John Wayne Airport and OC Public Works buyers, prevailing wage and DBE, and how ContractRadar monitors Orange County daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Sacramento government contracts: how the Procurement Services portal works, the ESB program, water and public works buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Sacramento daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Jacksonville government contracts: how the consolidated city-county procurement portal works, the JSEB program, infrastructure and drainage buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Jacksonville daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Dallas government contracts: how the procurement portal works, the Business Inclusion & Development (BID) M/WBE program, Love Field and Dallas Water Utilities buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Dallas daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Fort Worth government contracts: how the procurement portal works, the Business Equity (BEO) M/WBE program, Aviation and Water buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Fort Worth daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Charlotte government contracts: how the procurement portal works, the Charlotte Business INClusion (CBI) MWSBE program, CLT airport and CATS buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Charlotte daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Cincinnati government contracts: how the procurement portal works, the Department of Economic Inclusion SBE/MBE/WBE programs, Greater Cincinnati Water Works, and how ContractRadar monitors Cincinnati daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Detroit government contracts: how the procurement portal works, the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity (CRIO) requirements, DWSD and GSD buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Detroit daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Akron government contracts: how the procurement portal works, EEO and small business participation, water/sewer and Engineering Bureau buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Akron daily.
Read more →Guide to City of Ocoee (Orlando metro) government contracts: how the procurement portal works, what to know about bidding in a smaller fast-growing Central Florida city, and how ContractRadar monitors Ocoee daily.
Read more →Guide to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania government contracts: how the procurement portal works, SDB/DBE participation, roads & bridges and community college buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Montgomery County daily.
Read more →Guide to Pinal County, Arizona government contracts: how the procurement portal works, bidding in a fast-growing Phoenix–Tucson corridor county, Public Works and facilities buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Pinal County daily.
Read more →Guide to Marion County, Florida (Ocala) government contracts: how the procurement portal works, bidding in a growing I-75 logistics corridor county, roads and utilities buyers, and how ContractRadar monitors Marion County daily.
Read more →Guide to North Dakota state contracts: how NDBuys works, in-state and veteran preferences, energy and construction categories, and how ContractRadar monitors ND daily.
Read more →Guide to Alabama state contracts: how AlabamaBuys works, ALDOT and University of Alabama System procurement, the DBE program for transportation work, and how ContractRadar monitors AL daily.
Read more →Guide to Maryland state contracts: how eMMA works, MDOT and University System of Maryland procurement, the SBR and MBE programs, and how ContractRadar monitors MD daily.
Read more →Guide to Ohio state contracts: how OhioBuys works, ODOT and Ohio State University procurement, the EDGE set-aside program, and how ContractRadar monitors OH daily.
Read more →Guide to Alaska state contracts: how Online Public Notices covers state agencies, the University of Alaska, AMHS, and political subdivisions in one feed, Alaska Bidder/Veteran Preference programs, and how ContractRadar monitors AK daily.
Read more →Guide to Oklahoma state contracts: how OMES Central Purchasing works, the difference from the legacy DCS portal, OMES Open Procurement and Veteran-Owned Business certification, and how ContractRadar monitors OK daily.
Read more →Guide to Wisconsin government contracts: how VendorNet covers state agencies plus ~700 counties, cities, towns, and schools in one portal, NIGP commodity codes, WI supplier diversity programs, and how ContractRadar monitors WI daily.
Read more →Guide to Tennessee state contracts: how GO-BID and the CPO work, GoDBE and TDOT DBE programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors TN daily.
Read more →Guide to Louisiana state contracts: how LaPAC covers state agencies, universities, and parish/municipal entities in one feed, Hudson Initiative and LaDOTD DBE programs, and how ContractRadar monitors LA daily.
Read more →Guide to Broward County government contracts: how the BPRO procurement portal works, CBE/SBE programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Broward County daily.
Read more →Guide to Hillsborough County (Tampa) government contracts: how the procurement portal works, the SBE program, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Hillsborough County daily.
Read more →Guide to Palm Beach County government contracts: how the VSS procurement portal works, SBE and M/WBE programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Palm Beach County daily.
Read more →Guide to Clark County (Las Vegas) government contracts: how the Purchasing & Contracts portal works, the separate construction-bid system, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Clark County daily.
Read more →Guide to Cook County (Chicago) government contracts: how the OCPO procurement portal works, MBE/WBE/VBE programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Cook County daily.
Read more →Guide to Harris County (Houston) government contracts: how the Purchasing portal works, the MWDBE program, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Harris County daily.
Read more →Guide to City of San Diego government contracts: how the Purchasing & Contracting portal works, SLBE/ELBE programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors San Diego daily.
Read more →Guide to King County (Seattle) government contracts: how the county's supplier portal works, the SCS program and apprenticeship requirements, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors King County daily.
Read more →Guide to Chicago government contracts: how DPS and the city eProcurement portal work, MBE/WBE/Target Market certifications, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Chicago daily.
Read more →Guide to Honolulu government contracts: how the City & County VSS portal works, Hawaii preferences, compliance requirements, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Honolulu daily.
Read more →Guide to Missouri state contracts: how MissouriBuys works, the 5% reciprocal preference, 3% SDVOB preference, MoDOT/MDC/DSS contracting, and how ContractRadar monitors MO daily.
Read more →Guide to Atlanta government contracts: how the city's procurement portal works, OCC/MFBE certification, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Atlanta daily.
Read more →Guide to Denver government contracts: how denvergov.org procurement works, MWBE participation goals, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Denver daily.
Read more →8 SAM.gov alternatives compared by price, coverage, and use case. Free and paid options for small businesses, primes, and BD teams.
Read more →A practical playbook for winning Oregon government contracts: when to pursue them, how to get COBID-certified, how to write a competitive bid, and what trips small businesses up.
Read more →A practical playbook for winning Arizona government contracts: who actually wins them, how to position your business, where to start as a new bidder, and the mistakes that lose deals.
Read more →A practical playbook for winning Washington state contracts: when OMWBE certification pays off, how to use the high competitive threshold to your advantage, and what separates winning bids from also-rans.
Read more →Guide to Georgia state contracts: how the GPR works, DOAS small business program, DBE through GDOT, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors GA daily.
Read more →Guide to Hawaii state contracts: how HANDS works, the 15% Hawaii Products Preference, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Hawaii daily.
Read more →Guide to Idaho state contracts: how LUMA works, the 5% in-state preference, DBE through ITD, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Idaho daily.
Read more →Guide to Indiana state contracts: how IDOA procurement works, MBE/WBE/VBE certifications, DBE through INDOT, and how ContractRadar monitors Indiana daily.
Read more →Guide to Michigan state contracts: how SIGMA works, MBE/WBE/SDVOSB certifications, DBE through MDOT, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Michigan daily.
Read more →Guide to Minnesota state contracts: how OSP GS-Auto works, the 6% TGB preference, DBE through MnDOT, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Minnesota daily.
Read more →Guide to Mississippi state contracts: how DFA Bid Search works, the 7% small business preference, MBE certification, and how ContractRadar monitors Mississippi daily.
Read more →Guide to Montana state contracts: how eMACS works, the 3% in-state preference, wildfire and natural resource contracting, and how ContractRadar monitors Montana daily.
Read more →Guide to Rhode Island state contracts: how RIDOP works, MBE/WBE programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Rhode Island daily.
Read more →Guide to South Carolina state contracts: how SCBO works, small and minority business programs, DBE through SCDOT, and how ContractRadar monitors SC daily.
Read more →Guide to South Dakota state contracts: how the state's online bid portal works, the 5% in-state preference, veteran preferences, and how ContractRadar monitors SD daily.
Read more →Guide to Utah state contracts: how U3P works, the 5% in-state preference, Silicon Slopes IT opportunities, DBE through UDOT, and how ContractRadar monitors Utah daily.
Read more →Guide to Vermont state contracts: how the VBR works, in-state preferences, VTrans DBE program, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Vermont daily.
Read more →Guide to Virginia state contracts: how eVA works, SWaM certification, SDVOSB preference, VDOT DBE program, and how ContractRadar monitors Virginia daily.
Read more →Guide to West Virginia state contracts: how OASIS works, the 2.5% in-state preference, WV DOH DBE program, energy sector contracting, and how ContractRadar monitors WV daily.
Read more →Guide to Nebraska state contracts: how DAS Materiel works, in-state preference, DBE through NDOT, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Nebraska daily.
Read more →Guide to New Mexico state contracts: how the State Purchasing Division portal works, resident and veteran preferences, energy and construction categories, and how ContractRadar monitors NM daily.
Read more →Guide to North Carolina state contracts: how eVP works, NC HUB certification, NCDOT, UNC system, and how ContractRadar monitors NC daily.
Read more →Guide to Iowa state contracts: how Iowa Bid Opportunities works, TSB certification, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Iowa daily.
Read more →Guide to Kansas state contracts: how eSupplier Portal works, small business preference, KanCare, and how ContractRadar monitors Kansas daily.
Read more →Guide to Kentucky state contracts: how Vendor Self-Service (VSS) works, small business preference, MBE certification, and how ContractRadar monitors KY daily.
Read more →Guide to Maine state contracts: how Vendor Self-Service (VSS) works, in-state vendor preferences, MaineDOT DBE, and how ContractRadar monitors Maine daily.
Read more →Guide to NYC government contracts: how PASSPort works, M/WBE certification, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors NYC daily.
Read more →Guide to SF government contracts: how DataSF procurement works, LBE certification, SFO airport contracts, and how ContractRadar monitors SF daily.
Read more →Guide to Boston government contracts: how boston.gov procurement works, M/WBE certification, top categories, and tips for winning city bids.
Read more →Guide to Houston government contracts: how the city's procurement portal works, M/WBE and SBE certification, airport contracts, and how ContractRadar monitors Houston daily.
Read more →Guide to Philadelphia government contracts: how city procurement works, M/W/DSBE certification, green infrastructure, and how ContractRadar monitors Philly daily.
Read more →ContractRadar now offers a free tier with 5 semantic searches per day. Find government contracts — no credit card required.
Read more →Guide to Colorado state contracts: how BIDS works, small business certifications, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Colorado daily.
Read more →Guide to Connecticut state contracts: how DAS procurement works, SBE/MBE certifications, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors CT daily.
Read more →Guide to Delaware state contracts: how DigiSolv works, resident vendor preference, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Delaware daily.
Read more →ContractRadar now offers semantic search. Describe your business in plain language and find relevant contracts — even when terminology differs.
Read more →Guide to Massachusetts state contracts: how COMMBUYS works, SDO certifications, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors MA daily.
Read more →Guide to Nevada state contracts: how NevadaEPro works, in-state preferences, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Nevada daily.
Read more →Guide to New Jersey state contracts: how NJSTART works, Set-Aside Act, SBE certification, and how ContractRadar monitors NJ daily.
Read more →Guide to Arkansas state contracts: how ARBuy works, in-state preferences, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Arkansas daily.
Read more →Guide to Illinois state contracts: how BidBuy works, BEP certification, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Illinois daily.
Read more →Guide to Florida state contracts: how MyFloridaMarketPlace works, certification programs, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors Florida daily.
Read more →Guide to California state contracts: how Cal eProcure works, SB and DVBE certifications, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors CA daily.
Read more →Guide to New York state contracts: how NYSCR works, MWBE certification, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors NY daily.
Read more →Six more states now available — Oregon, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Arkansas, and Illinois. Same AI matching, same daily email.
Read more →Guide to Pennsylvania state contracts: how PA eMarketplace works, SDB certification, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors PA daily.
Read more →Guide to LA government contracts: how City of LA (RAMP) and LA County procurement work, local certifications, and how ContractRadar monitors LA daily.
Read more →ContractRadar now monitors state and local procurement portals — starting with Delaware, NYC, and San Francisco. Same AI matching, same daily email.
Read more →Guide to New Hampshire state contracts: how procurement works, who can bid, common categories, and how ContractRadar monitors NH opportunities daily.
Read more →Guide to Texas state contracts: how ESBD and HUB certification work, common contract categories, tips for winning, and how ContractRadar monitors Texas daily.
Read more →How to register for federal contracts — SAM.gov steps, timelines, costs, and free help from Apex Accelerators. A step-by-step guide.
Read more →ContractRadar now shows past award history from USASpending.gov on federal matches when available. See past winners, amounts, and performance periods.
Read more →Large federal contractors must subcontract to small businesses. Learn where subcontracting opportunities are posted and how to find them.
Read more →Honest comparison of government contracting tools for small businesses: SAM.gov, SamSearch, GovDash, GovTribe, Procura Federal, GovWin IQ, and ContractRadar.
Read more →Beginner's guide to federal contracting: SAM.gov registration, set-asides, NAICS codes, and how to spot winnable bids — no experience required.
Read more →