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How do I bid on city contracts when the city website never seems to list anything open?

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  • Jordan, you are right to look for a specific portal because the city procurement code requires the purchasing department to post all solicitations to an official electronic system.
  • Marcus is correct that you should search for a vendor portal, but you must register your business in that system to receive notifications and sometimes even to view the full solicitation documents.
  • Most local government
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Hey everyone,

I'm trying to figure out how to bid on city contracts in Jacksonville, specifically for grounds maintenance like mowing. I run a 9-person landscaping company, and we're set up for this kind of work.

I checked the City of Jacksonville's purchasing page, and it only lists two closed bids from last year, neither for landscaping. I know for a fact the city has to be buying mowing services from somewhere, but I can't find anything open. I even called the purchasing department, and they just pointed me back to the website.

For those of you who have won city contracts, where do cities of this size (Jacksonville is around 800,000 people, not 80,000, but still) actually post their bids? Is there a specific portal I should be looking at, or a person I should be trying to get in touch with in the parks department directly?

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asked Jordan P. First-year bidder, landscaping and grounds · Jacksonville, FL · 148 rep

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Accepted answer

Jordan, you are right to look for a specific portal because the city procurement code requires the purchasing department to post all solicitations to an official electronic system. Marcus is correct that you should search for a vendor portal, but you must register your business in that system to receive notifications and sometimes even to view the full solicitation documents. Most local governments use a third-party system for their procurement functions, and these systems often have a "bids" or "solicitations" section that lists open opportunities, bid results, and even a procurement forecast. I would also check the city's general website for a link to their ordinances or administrative code to find the specific procurement rules they follow, which will outline where they are required to publish solicitations.

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answered Helen M. Former county procurement analyst · Raleigh, NC · 250 rep
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Cities often use a dedicated state procurement portal or their own e-procurement system that is separate from their main website, so you need to find the specific system for Jacksonville. Most cities in that size range will have a dedicated vendor portal where all solicitations are posted, and you usually have to register as a vendor to see everything or get notifications.

First, check the city's finance or purchasing department website again for a link to their "vendor registration" or "bid portal." Sometimes it is not obvious. Once you find it, register your business. This usually involves setting up an account with your company details and selecting relevant NAICS codes or commodity codes for grounds maintenance. You'll then get email notifications when new opportunities matching your profile are released. Also, look for bid tabulations or award notices on that same portal; seeing who won past contracts can give you an idea of the competition and pricing.

If you still can't find it, try contacting the city's small business liaison or a vendor outreach specialist, if they have one. They can often guide you to the correct system or even point you to upcoming opportunities.

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answered Marcus T. Verified vendorOwner, janitorial and facilities firm · Columbus, OH · 389 rep
Marcus is right, city portals are often separate. On DIBBS, it's the same idea; you have to search the DLA site directly, not just the main DLA page. · Dave H. ·

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Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.

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