For construction companies that have never won a government contract

Can a construction company win a government contract?

Yes, the government buys what you do. There are 876 open federal bids for construction companies right now.

248 of them are reserved for small businesses, so a large company cannot take them.

That is a live count from the government's own listings, not an estimate. Winning one is another matter: the government decides, and nobody can promise it.

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Can my business actually do this?

What the government buys from construction companies

Repairs and renovations to federal buildings
Roofing, paving, painting, electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling work
New construction, from small sheds to large buildings

Good to know. Construction bids often ask for a bond and for proof of similar work. Start with the smaller repair jobs, where the papers asked for are lighter.

What do I need before I can bid?

Less than you may think, but it has to be in place first

An active SAM.gov registration. It is free, it is the government's own list of who it can pay, and it has to be renewed every year. Allow a few weeks.
A one-page capability statement. It tells a buyer what you do, where, and who you have done it for.
Proof you have done this work. Many bids ask about past jobs. Work for private customers usually counts.
A certification, for some bids only. Some bids are reserved for woman-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone or 8(a) businesses. Most are not.

Am I ready? Free 2-minute check Start with the free first lesson Get help with SAM.gov Do I qualify for a certification?

Which contracts should I pursue?

Open bids for construction companies

The ones kindest to a first-time bidder come first. Start close to home, start small, and check the deadline before you read anything else.

Where do you work?

876 open bids

ICE HSI Schwartz 2nd Floor Window Coverings

Due in 13 days Oct 21, 2026

General Services Administration · San Diego, CA

In plain English: Install window coverings in office spaces at federal building.

Who can bid: Only small businesses can bid on this one.

Construction and repairs Small business Small Business Set Aside - Total Presolicitation NAICS 236220

Details View details

EOIR Schwartz FOB Courtroom Painting

Due in 13 days Oct 21, 2026

General Services Administration · San Diego, CA

In plain English: Paint a courtroom at a federal office building in San Diego.

Who can bid: Only small businesses can bid on this one.

Construction and repairs Small business Small Business Set Aside - Total Presolicitation NAICS 236220

Details View details

B. Everett Jordan Concrete Pad Installation

Due in 27 days Nov 4, 2026

Department of Defense

In plain English: Install a concrete pad and column foundations for a shelter.

Who can bid: Only small businesses can bid on this one.

Construction and repairs Small business Small Business Set Aside - Total Solicitation NAICS 238110

Details View details

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See all 876 of these bids

You are seeing the first 3. The rest, and every bid in full, are one free account away.

A free account gives you:

Read every bid and grant in full, with the official notice
See how each bid compares with your business
New bids that fit your work, by email once a week
A first look at a bid from our AI assistant, one bid a day
The readiness check, the certification checks and your results saved

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It takes about a minute. No card is asked for, and we never sell your email address.

Do not come back and check. Let the bids come to you.

Create a free account, tell us what you do, and we email you new bids that fit once a week. Members get them every day.

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How do I respond to a 60-page solicitation?

Not alone, and not at midnight

A bid is written for contracting officers, not for a business owner. Sabrina, our AI assistant, reads the notice and its documents with you and tells you in plain English what it is asking for, what you have to send in, and where you stand.

Work a bid from start to finish with Sabrina, our AI assistant
She reads the bid's documents, and the files and screenshots you add
Estimates built from your own numbers, compared with what the government has paid before
The documents you send in, written for you to download and edit

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OpenBid cannot guarantee results. The government decides who wins a bid, and nobody can promise that one will.

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