Public Procurement & HUB Resources

Federal, state and local government departments and agencies use public procurement channels to buy the goods and services they need. To determine if public procurement contracts are relevant to your business, first research if government departments and agencies buy the products or services you sell. This information is published, usually online, by public organizations. If you think that selling to government agencies could be an opportunity for your business, the following organizations and resources could be useful to you:

Federal Public Procurement

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers information and training on competing for and winning federal public procurement contracts.

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers

There are six Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) in Texas. They provide free individual counseling and training on federal, state and local procurement. They can help entrepreneurs determine if public procurement is an opportunity for them and how best to approach it. They also help companies apply for relevant certifications. Find your nearest PTAC by using the online locator.

Texas Public Procurement

In Texas, State procurement is managed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA). The following are links to key resources provided by the CPA:

Centralized Master Bidders List is where businesses interested in selling to Texas public entities can register for a small fee. The list is used by public purchasing entities to develop a mailing list for vendors to receive bid opportunities.

Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) is an online search engine that lists state contracts valued at more than $25,000. Businesses can see what is being procured by which public entity in Texas.

Texas Multiple Award Schedule Program (TXMAS) is an alternate purchasing method for public entities that allows them to purchase from existing contracts, awarded by the federal government or any other governmental entity of any state. A business may qualify to sell via this program if they have existing contracts with public entities. Learn how to register as a Texas vendor on the CPA’s website.

Texas CPA’s HUB Program

The Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program aims to promote fair and equal business opportunities for small, minority and women-owned businesses. To encourage participation of companies with diverse ownership, this program ensures that public entities set aside part of their contracts for HUBs or disadvantaged business. You can learn about registering as a HUB vendor on the CPA’s website.

Certifications for Disadvantaged Business

When procuring goods and services, federal, state and local governments aim to promote fair and equal business opportunities for small, historically disadvantaged businesses and veteran-owned businesses. To find out more, visit our Veteran, Minority & Women Owned Business Resources webpage.

Local Public Procurement

Cities and counties across Texas have their own local procurement programs. They also have policies and programs for veteran, minority and women-owned business. It is important to check with your local government to find out about their programs.