Tampa Bay’s public buyers include the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Tampa International Airport, Port Tampa Bay, HART and MacDill Air Force Base, and nearly every one uses a different bid portal. As a government contracting consultant for Tampa small businesses, GERC handles the registrations, certifications and bids. We serve Tampa clients remotely from California.
City of Tampa
- Vendor registration and bids: OpenGov Procurement
- Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) program: the City suspended the WMBE part of the program on September 5, 2025. Its small local business (SLBE) certification continues.
- Apply for certification through the EBO office
Florida also passed SB 1134, which takes effect January 1, 2027 and restricts DEI programs in cities and counties. How it will affect local certification programs is still being worked out, so we confirm the current rules before you apply.
Other Tampa Bay buyers
- Hillsborough County: bids on Euna (Bonfire). Its small business program is free and registration lasts three years.
- Tampa International Airport: ProcureNow portal, free for suppliers
- Port Tampa Bay: bids on Euna OpenBids, with a race-neutral SBE program that sets a 9% goal on contracts
- HART: bids on Bonfire and vendor registration in its diversity compliance system
- Hillsborough County Public Schools: its own vendor process
- MacDill AFB and other federal buyers: SAM.gov
- State agencies: MyFloridaMarketPlace and FDOT DBE certification for transportation work
How GERC helps Tampa businesses win
- Registrations: SAM.gov, OpenGov, Euna, ProcureNow and MyFloridaMarketPlace
- Certifications: City SLBE, Hillsborough County SBE, Port Tampa Bay SBE, DBE and SBA programs
- Bid targeting and bid writing services
Example: how a Tampa staffing agency would get started
This is an illustration of our process, not a client story.
A small staffing agency in Tampa wants public contracts. We register it on the City’s OpenGov portal, Euna for Hillsborough County and Port Tampa Bay, and ProcureNow for the airport, then apply for the County and Port small business programs. We register it in SAM.gov for MacDill support contracts and set up weekly bid alerts across all of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is the City of Tampa WMBE program still active?
The City suspended the WMBE part of its Equal Business Opportunity program in September 2025. Small local business certification continues.
Where do I find Hillsborough County bids?
On the County’s Euna (Bonfire) procurement platform.
Does Port Tampa Bay have a small business program?
Yes. It runs a race-neutral SBE program with a 9% goal, for firms in its seven-county area that meet its size limits.
Who can help my Tampa business with government contracts?
GERC (Global Economic Research Consulting), a woman-owned small business, handles registrations, certifications and bids for Tampa firms. SAM.gov registration starts at $899. Call (909) 454-7076 or book a consultation.
Win government contracts in Tampa
Book a free 15-minute readiness call and we will map the registrations, certifications and bids that fit your business.
Related: Florida · FDOT DBE Certification · Tampa · Jacksonville · Miami · SAM.gov Registration · Bid Writing Services