Start with Texas public notices
The Texas Comptroller’s Vendor Information Center points businesses to the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) and the Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL). In ESBD, search terms such as janitorial, custodial, cleaning services, housekeeping, and floor care; also try the service codes that best match the work you actually perform. ESBD supports keyword and class/item searches, and posted notices can be viewed without signing in. Sources: Texas Comptroller Vendor Information Center, Texas SmartBuy ESBD search, Texas Comptroller NIGP commodity codes
Keep the CMBL profile aligned with your services and regions so buyers can find you for relevant invitations. The Comptroller says CMBL registration is not required to do business with the State of Texas, so treat it as a vendor-notification channel rather than a blanket eligibility rule. Sources: Texas Comptroller CMBL FAQ, Texas Comptroller Vendor Information Center
Set up ERS notices with matching NIGP codes
For Texas Employees Retirement System (ERS) formal solicitations, register in its e-procurement portal and list every applicable NIGP class and item number for your services. ERS says notifications depend on those matches; its open-opportunity list is publicly viewable, while registration is needed to retrieve solicitation documents. ERS describes formal solicitation notices for procurements of $25,000 or more when a formal solicitation is required. Sources: ERS vendor FAQs for formal solicitations, ERS current and upcoming opportunities, Texas Comptroller NIGP commodity codes
Use the Comptroller’s commodity book to identify codes that fit your actual offering, then check the ERS portal profile itself. A broad or incomplete code list can leave relevant notices out of your notifications. Sources: Texas Comptroller NIGP commodity codes, ERS vendor FAQs for formal solicitations
Broaden discovery, then return to the issuer
Search SAM.gov for federal opportunities using janitorial, custodial, cleaning, and facilities terms. Anyone can search its public notices; an active SAM.gov entity registration is required to bid directly on federal contract opportunities. Sources: SAM.gov contract opportunities
GovWin IQ and ContractRadar can add another discovery layer for Texas janitorial work across public buyers. Their previews, account features, subscription access, and source coverage can vary. Aggregator totals and open-bid counts change, so this guide does not treat them as lasting market facts. Confirm every lead against the issuing agency’s original notice and attachments. Sources: GovWin IQ Houston janitorial search, ContractRadar Texas janitorial search
Screen the scope and your eligibility
Before investing in a response, compare the work to your actual capacity. Look for:
Service scope and sites. Locations, square footage, cleaning frequency, operating hours, restrooms, floors, windows, supplies, equipment, waste removal, and any specialty or post-construction work.
Delivery and staffing. Start date, contract term and options, staffing or supervision requirements, access rules, site visits, service-level measures, and required reporting.
Eligibility and response format. Required registrations, experience, insurance, bonds, certifications, forms, references, subcontracting goals, mandatory meetings, pricing sheets, and the submission portal. Treat each as required only when the solicitation says so.
Economics and fit. Estimate labor, travel, supplies, equipment, supervision, and any site-specific costs against the requested pricing format and contract term. Pass if the required coverage or schedule is not realistic for your team.
Verify the deadline in the original notice
Open the agency’s notice and attachments before acting. Record the solicitation number, response date and time (including time zone), delivery method, question deadline, site-visit details, and any mandatory forms. Recheck amendments and addenda for changes to scope, dates, or instructions; an aggregator or search result may lag behind the issuer. Sources: Texas SmartBuy ESBD search, ERS vendor FAQs for formal solicitations, SAM.gov contract opportunities
BidThicket helps companies find and organize opportunities. It does not submit bids on a customer’s behalf: the company remains responsible for verifying the solicitation and sending its response to the issuing agency.