XL EagleESBD (Electronic State Business Daily (Texas))
ESBD stands for Electronic State Business Daily (Texas). The Electronic State Business Daily is where Texas state agencies and universities post bid opportunities. It is managed by the Texas Comptroller and hosted on the Texas SmartBuy site. State law requires many state purchases above a set dollar amount to be posted there.
Each ESBD posting has a solicitation number, due date, agency contact, and attachments. The listing tells you how to respond, which may be by email, mail, or another portal.
Why it matters to a small contractor
The ESBD is free to search, and it is the best single source for Texas state agency work. Read the posting's instructions carefully, because each agency sets its own submission method and some will not accept email.
Example
A janitorial company finds an ESBD posting from a state health agency for cleaning at a regional office. The posting says responses must be emailed to a specific address, so the company emails a signed PDF bid before the deadline.
ESBD: common questions
Do I need to register to see ESBD postings?
You can search ESBD postings publicly. Registering on the CMBL is what gets you on state bid lists.
Do Texas cities post on the ESBD?
Mostly no. The ESBD is for state agencies. Texas cities and counties usually use their own portals.
Want the contract without the paperwork? Send XL Eagle your price on an open government job. We write and submit the bid under our registrations, free to you. Find open jobs →