How to register as a California government vendor

For state contracting, start by registering your business through California’s official Cal eProcure portal. Registration helps the state identify suppliers and is separate from GovClient, from SB/DVBE certification, and from submitting a bid. Cities, counties, school districts, and federal agencies may use different vendor portals and requirements.

Open Cal eProcure · Read California DGS supplier guidance

1. Register through the state’s Cal eProcure portal

Use the official Cal eProcure site to create your supplier account. The California Department of General Services (DGS) directs businesses to register there; its current “How to do Business with the State of California” materials describe registration as a no-cost first step. Follow the portal’s current on-screen instructions and use contact details your business can maintain.

Keep your supplier login and business information current. A GovClient profile does not create a Cal eProcure account, and appearing in a vendor search does not mean an agency has approved you for a particular contract.

2. Describe the goods and services you actually provide

Buyers use keywords and commodity classifications to find suppliers. DGS’s keywords and UNSPSC guide recommends entering keywords individually, including useful synonyms, and choosing codes that match the goods or services you can provide. Use the official DGS UNSPSC resources to review classifications rather than selecting a broad code only because it sounds close.

A classification helps buyers find your profile; it is not a professional license, certification, proof of capacity, or guarantee that you qualify for a solicitation. State certification-profile codes and procurement-notification code choices may be managed separately, so review both settings in the portal.

3. Turn on the bid notifications you want

DGS instructs suppliers to configure solicitation notifications and add relevant codes to their profile. After registration, use Cal eProcure’s account and notification settings to choose the notices you want to receive. Keep the list specific enough to be useful, and check the portal directly for amendments and deadlines. Email alerts are a discovery aid; the official solicitation remains the source of truth.

4. Apply for SB or DVBE certification only if you meet the rules

California Small Business (SB), Microbusiness, and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certifications have separate eligibility rules and an application process. Review DGS’s current certification requirements and application instructions. Do not claim a certification or preference until DGS has approved it and the specific solicitation permits it.

In DGS’s FY 2024–25 report, state mandatory reporting departments awarded $12.21 billion in contracts. Certified SBs/Microbusinesses received $3.62 billion (29.61%), while DVBE participation was 5.96%, above the statewide participation goals of 25% and 3%. These are aggregate participation results, not a forecast for your business or any single bid. Certification can help buyers identify eligible suppliers when procurement rules allow it; it does not replace reading the solicitation, meeting every qualification, or submitting a complete response on time. Read the DGS FY 2024–25 report.

5. Search the right agency portal and read the full solicitation

Cal eProcure is a starting point for California state opportunities. Local governments publish through their own procurement systems, and federal opportunities are listed on SAM.gov. Use our California procurement source directory to find additional official portals; directory links are not all imported into GovClient.

Before pursuing a notice, check the scope, delivery or work location, required licenses and insurance, mandatory conferences or site visits, questions deadline, forms, submission method, and every amendment. Confirm whether the agency is still accepting bids. A vendor account or matching category alone does not make a business eligible.

Keep these steps distinct

• Supplier registration: creates or maintains your vendor profile in the relevant agency portal.
• Certification: a separate review of whether your company meets an SB, Microbusiness, or DVBE program’s requirements.
• Bid response: your submission for one specific opportunity, following that solicitation’s instructions.
• GovClient: helps organize public notices and compare their published scope with your services; it does not register or certify your company, submit a bid, or guarantee an award.

Find a first opportunity to review

Once your supplier profile is ready, compare real notices against the services, locations, licenses, and capacity your business can support. GovClient’s free scan lets you see an example of that research before creating an account; the connected California feed is a selection, not complete statewide coverage.

Read the California contracts guide · Use the free bid-readiness checklist · Browse current notices

Reviewed October 27, 2026. DGS and Cal eProcure control current registration and certification instructions. Confirm requirements directly with the issuing agency. GovClient is independent and is not a government agency.