How California counties post bids (2026)
16 of California's 58 counties (28%) don't use an online bid platform. They post bids on their own website, in the local newspaper or in Board of Supervisors agendas, where vendors who only watch bid portals can miss them.
- 58Counties
- 42 (72%)Use an online bid platform
- 16 (28%)No online bid platform
- 17 (29%)List a purchasing email online
Bid platforms used
Counties that use an online platform, by platform. Some counties use more than one.
| Platform | Counties | Share of California counties |
|---|---|---|
| Public Purchase | 13 | 22% |
| OpenGov Procurement | 9 | 16% |
| County-run bid portals | 7 | 12% |
| PlanetBids | 4 | 7% |
| BidNet Direct | 3 | 5% |
| Bid Express | 2 | 3% |
| Bonfire (Euna Procurement) | 2 | 3% |
| bids&tenders | 1 | 2% |
| Periscope S2G (BidSync) | 1 | 2% |
| Beacon Bid | 1 | 2% |
Where Board of Supervisors agendas are published
Board agendas often show a purchase (approval to advertise, a budget amendment, an expiring contract) weeks before the bid is posted.
| Agenda system | Counties | Share |
|---|---|---|
| County website (documents) | 21 | 36% |
| Legistar (Granicus) | 11 | 19% |
| CivicPlus Agenda Center | 8 | 14% |
| Not found online | 6 | 10% |
| CivicClerk | 5 | 9% |
| Granicus | 4 | 7% |
| Other systems | 2 | 3% |
| PrimeGov | 1 | 2% |
Counties without an online bid platform
These counties post bids on their own website, in the newspaper or at board meetings. Each link shows where that county posts and who to contact.
Questions
How many California counties use an online bid platform?
42 of 58 (72%), based on FactWise's county-by-county research.
What is the most common bid platform for California counties?
Public Purchase, used by 13 counties.
Where do California counties without a bid platform post bids?
On the county website, in a local newspaper and in Board of Supervisors meeting agendas.
Method and citation
We checked each county's official website, purchasing pages, bid platforms and board agenda systems. A county counts as using a platform when its own website points vendors to it. Counts are recalculated from our database every time this page loads; county pages link to the sources.
You're welcome to quote these figures. Please cite “FactWise, How California counties post bids (2026)” and link to https://www.faircounty.com/reports/california-county-bidding-2026.