Agencies · City · Central San Diego
How to bid with the City of San Diego
The county's largest city, with hundreds of construction projects a year in its Capital Improvements Program (CIP). To bid as a prime contractor on any City public works job, you must first be **prequalified**.
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How jobs go out, by size
| Job size or type | How it goes out | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Construction projects (any size, as prime contractor) | Posted on the City's PlanetBids vendor portal. Viewing open bids there is free. | Get prequalified first, then register as a vendor on PlanetBids to bid and get notices. |
| Small construction contracts for small local firms | The City's Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) program offers restricted bidding, bid discounts and preference points. | Get SLBE-certified through the City's Equal Opportunity Contracting Program. |
SLBE firms that have never done a public works job as a prime must first take City training before bidding.
Get on the list, step by step
- Make sure your DIR public works registration is current. California requires it to bid public works.
- Apply for the Prequalification Program through the City's PlanetBids vendor portal (planetbids.com, portal 17950). Send a current financial statement prepared by an independent accountant, a bond letter addressed to the City of San Diego, and three past clients as references.
- Apply at least 10 City working days before the bid opening you want. Approval lasts two years; renew every two years with updated references, financials and bond letter.
- The City sets your maximum bidding capacity (MBC): a reviewed statement allows up to your single-project bond limit or $30 million, whichever is less; an audited one, up to your bond limit. SLBE-certified firms may use a compiled statement, capped at their bond limit or $1 million.
- Separately register as a vendor on the same PlanetBids portal to get bid notices and download plans.
Open bids now
No open bids from the City of San Diego in this week's list. New bids are added every Monday.
Contact and official pages
Purchasing & Contracting, Public Works Contracting Division
1200 Third Ave., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101
- Prequalification Program
- Public Works Contracting
- Small Local Business Enterprise program
- Search for a construction project
From the agency's own pages, checked November 2, 2026. Rules and thresholds change; always confirm on the official pages. See also all 39 agencies.
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19 open bids, 3 site walks: week of Nov 2
19 open3 site walks 14 coming soon
- Nov 3Guardrail Services, Imperial and San Diego CountiesCaltrans District 11
- Nov 9HVAC Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement ServicesCity of Santee
- Dec 1Lease-Leaseback Del Sur Elementary School New HVAC InstallationPoway Unified School District · Mandatory walk
- Dec 3San Ysidro High, Otay Ranch High Baseball & Softball Scoreboard InstallationsSweetwater Union High School District · Mandatory walk
…and 15 more, sorted by trade, plus coming projects.
Questions or a bid we missed? info@sandiegobids.com