The Centralized Master Bidders List is how Texas state agencies find vendors to notify about a purchase. You pick the class and item codes (based on NIGP codes) for what you sell and the regions you serve, and agencies send matching solicitations to vendors on the list.
How state agencies use it
According to the Texas Comptroller:
- For purchases over $25,000, agencies notify every active vendor registered for the matching codes and districts.
- From $10,000 to $25,000, agencies ask at least three active vendors.
- Up to $10,000, competitive bids aren't required, but agencies are encouraged to contact vendors on the list.
How to register
Register online through the Comptroller's CMBL application (or mail a paper form with payment, which can take up to 30 working days). Your vendor ID is your federal tax ID. The fee is $70 a year per business location, and there's no two-year option.
What it means if you sell to counties
Texas counties buy under the County Purchasing Act, not the state purchasing rules, so they don't send notices through the CMBL. To sell to a county, register on the bid platform or vendor list the county itself uses (each Texas county page shows where). If you also sell to state agencies, register on the CMBL and watch the ESBD.
Questions
Do I need to be on the CMBL to bid on Texas county contracts?
No. The CMBL is used by Texas state agencies. Counties advertise their own bids and keep their own vendor lists, so check each county's purchasing page or its FactWise county page.
How much does CMBL registration cost?
$70 a year for each business location, according to the Texas Comptroller. Each location registers separately.
Do I have to be on the CMBL to sell to the State of Texas?
No, but agencies use it to decide who gets bid notices, so being on it means you hear about more state opportunities.