How to Bid on Government Construction Jobs
Federal and state governments and municipal agencies manage a large number of construction projects each year. These may include buildings, roads, bridges, earthwork, and many other types of projects. Contracts for these jobs are typically awarded based on a system of bidding, where the lowest bidder often gets the job. If you're looking for government construction jobs to bid on, there are several comprehensive websites available that provide this information free of charge. Each offers hundreds or even thousands of bidding opportunities for all types of contractors from many different areas.
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Instructions
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Visit the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. This comprehensive website lists all jobs that federal agencies are currently bidding or preparing to bid. It is run and maintained by the US Government, and is free for contractors looking to bid on work.
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Set up an account on the FBO website. You will need basic company information, as well as a valid email address. Companies who register on this website are identified by their DUNS number. This is a system of identifying businesses that was created by the financial firm Dunn & Bradstreet. You can get a DUNS number for free on the DUNS website, which is listed in the Resources section of this article.
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Search for jobs you may be interested in bidding. You can search by federal agency, trade, location, schedule, or keyword. Some jobs may be closed only to certain bidders. Contact individual agencies to determine how you can be placed on their qualified bidders list.
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Prepare your bids. Each opportunity on this site will come with instructions on how to obtain project drawings, what information should be included in the bid, and how the bid should be submitted. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure your bid will be accepted for consideration.
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Check the SBA Subnet website for federal subcontracting opportunities. This site is managed by the US Small Business Association, and offers opportunities that are primarily aimed at subcontractors, though some general contracting jobs are listed as well.
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Look for state bidding opportunities on your state's purchasing and procurement website. A list of procurement websites for each state can be found in the Resources section of this article.
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References
Resources
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