Guide · California · 7 min read

How to Win Government Fencing Contracts in California

By the XL Eagle bid team · Updated November 2, 2026 · Built from our live bid database and USAspending.gov

Fencing contracts in California are short, clear jobs. The buyer wants a fence built, replaced or repaired along a line, around a yard or at a gate. That makes them a good fit for a small crew with the right license and a steady supplier.

Buyers include Air Force and Army National Guard sites, the Forest Service, and state and local agencies on Cal eProcure and OpenGov. Many jobs mix fencing with gates, posts, concrete and sometimes access control. Read the drawings to see exactly what is included.

You can bid on your own. Or you can send XL Eagle your price for a fencing job. XL Eagle writes and submits the bid as the prime. If it wins, you build the fence and get paid. You do not need your own SAM.gov registration to work this way.

Fencing contracts in California at a glance

1 open fencing bid in California on XL Eagle today. See them all.
49 fencing solicitations in California in the last 12 months that we tracked (37 federal, 12 state and local).
Federal agencies made 350 contract awards worth $70.1 million for work performed in California under NAICS 238990 in FY2025 (Oct 2024 - Sep 2025).
Top federal buyers that year: Department of Defense ($65.1 million); Department of Agriculture ($1.6 million); Department of Veterans Affairs ($1.5 million).
Agencies posting this work most often in our data: Air Force, Forest Service, Army, Agricultural Research Service.
Where these jobs get posted: Cal eProcure, OpenGov.

Bid counts from the XL Eagle bid database as of November 2, 2026. Award totals from USAspending.gov.

Who buys fencing work in California

U.S. Air Force installations in California, which buy perimeter and security fencing.
Army National Guard sites, which post fence repair and replacement for armories and training areas.
The U.S. Forest Service, which buys fences and gates for ranger stations, corrals and campgrounds.
State agencies that post construction and repair work on Cal eProcure.
Cities, counties and school districts that post on OpenGov, often for ball fields, yards and campus perimeters.
Caltrans, which buys minor public works contracts and lists them on its bid opportunities page.

Open fencing bids in California right now

Fence and Gate Repair (Cal eProcure · Due November 17, 2026)
Ornamental Metal Fence & Gate Installation (OpenGov)
Fence Repair and Replacement (Cal eProcure)
Security Fence Installation (Cal eProcure)
Chain Link Fencing and Gates (OpenGov)
Fence Replacement Services (Cal eProcure)

All open fencing bids in California →

Licenses you need in California

California licenses fence work under the C-13 Fencing Contractor classification from the Contractors State License Board. A license is needed when the job needs a permit, uses extra workers, or totals $1,000 or more in labor, materials and other costs. CSLB says a larger job cannot be split into smaller pieces to avoid the license. Public works jobs also require DIR registration, at $400 for one fiscal year.

Register to bid in California

State and local jobs in California are posted on these sites:

Cal eProcure: The state's online marketplace where California agencies advertise bids in the California State Contracts Register, and where businesses apply for Small Business and DVBE certification.
DIR Public Works Contractor Registration: The Department of Industrial Relations registry that public works contractors must be on before they bid or work on California public works jobs.
SAM.gov: The federal site where military bases, the VA, the Forest Service and other federal buyers in California post their solicitations.
Caltrans Bid Opportunities: Caltrans lists bid opportunities, bid results and notices of intent to award, and also points suppliers to Cal eProcure.

Register as a bidder on Cal eProcure. Choose Login/Register, then Register as a New Bidder, and fill in your company profile, address, user accounts and the commodity codes you want alerts for.
Log in with the temporary password the system emails you, then set your own password.
Search the California State Contracts Register on Cal eProcure for open events in your trade, and read the full package before you decide to bid.
If you qualify, apply for Small Business (SB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certification through the DGS Office of Small Business and DVBE Services. The application is submitted through Cal eProcure.
For construction work on public buildings and roads, get the right CSLB license and register with DIR as a public works contractor before you bid.
For federal jobs, register on SAM.gov and read each solicitation for the Service Contract Act or Davis-Bacon wage rules that apply. Or send your price to XL Eagle and let XL Eagle bid as the prime.

Cal eProcure bidder registration is free. DIR public works contractor registration costs $400 for one fiscal year, $800 for two or $1,200 for three.

Federal jobs in California use SAM.gov, which is free. What SAM.gov is and how to register.

Small business certifications in California

California Small Business (SB) certification: An independently owned California business with 100 or fewer employees and average gross receipts of $19 million or less over three years can qualify, and certified SBs get a 5 percent bid preference on applicable state solicitations.
Small Business for Public Works (SB-PW): A California business with 200 or fewer employees and average gross receipts of $46 million or less over three years can certify for public works contracts only.
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE): A business at least 51 percent owned by a California-resident veteran with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, and run day to day by one or more disabled veterans.

Wage rules on public jobs

On California public works, workers must be paid the prevailing wage set by the Department of Industrial Relations, and DIR publishes the rates by craft and county. For federal jobs, the Davis-Bacon Act sets local prevailing wages on construction, alteration and repair contracts over $2,000, including painting and decorating, and the Service Contract Act does the same for service contracts over $2,500. The contract itself lists the wage determination you must follow.

What fencing jobs look like in California

Read the fence type in the spec. Chain link, ornamental iron, wood, vinyl and anti-climb security fence all have different materials and labor.
Check for utility locates. Digging post holes means calling before you dig, and the bid may list who does what.
Federal construction jobs follow Davis-Bacon wage rules when they are over $2,000. California public works follow DIR prevailing wage.
Gates and operators are often separate pay items. Look for sliding gates, swing gates, locks and any electric parts.
Security fencing at military sites can come with rules about height, wire type and gaps. Match the spec exactly.
Site access may need escorts or passes. Plan extra time for gate checks and delivery windows.

Pricing fencing work for California public buyers

Price by the linear foot for each fence type, then add gates as separate items.
Get a written supplier quote for posts, fabric, rail and fittings. Steel prices move, so note how long the quote is good.
Count digging conditions. Rock, slopes and old concrete slow the crew down and raise your cost.
Include removal and disposal when the job replaces an old fence. Buyers often forget to list it, so ask before the deadline.
Add mobilization if the site is far away. Crew travel, truck time and a wait at the gate are real costs.

Mistakes that lose these bids

Bidding without a C-13 license on a job that clearly needs one.
Using a plain chain link price for an anti-climb or security spec.
Forgetting the gates, hardware or concrete footings in the total.
Ignoring the schedule. Some buyers want the fence done before a season or an event.

The fastest way to bid: send us your price

You can register and bid on your own using the steps above. If you would rather not, send XL Eagle your price on any fencing job in California. We write and submit the bid as the prime contractor under our registrations. If it wins, you do the work and get paid. You do not need your own SAM.gov registration to work this way.

Pick a California fencing job or read the national guide to government fencing contracts.

Frequently asked questions

What license do I need to build fences for the government in California?

The C-13 Fencing Contractor license covers fence work. You need a license when the job needs a permit, uses extra workers or reaches $1,000 in total cost.

Do fencing jobs pay prevailing wage?

Public works fencing in California follows DIR prevailing wage. Federal construction over $2,000 follows Davis-Bacon rates. The bid package lists the rates.

How do I find fencing jobs near a military base?

Federal buyers post on SAM.gov, and state and local buyers post on Cal eProcure and OpenGov. Search for fence, gate and perimeter words.

Can XL Eagle bid my fencing job for me?

If you send XL Eagle your price, it writes and submits the bid as the prime. If it wins, you do the work and get paid.