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Guide · Texas · 7 min read

How to Win Government Fencing Contracts in Texas

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

Fencing contracts in Texas are a good fit for a small crew, because the state does not name fence work on its list of licensed trades and the jobs are easy to understand. A fence is measured in feet, the scope is clear, and buyers know what they want. The catch is local rules, which change from city to city.

Public buyers use fences for security, safety and land lines. They need new perimeter fence, gate repair, replacement after a vehicle hit, and sections of fence along roads. Bids come from state agencies on the Texas ESBD, from cities and schools, and from Army and Air Force sites on SAM.gov.

Below you will see who buys, how permits work, and how to price a fence job in feet, posts and gates. You will also see how XL Eagle can bid for you.

Fencing contracts in Texas at a glance

  • 4 open fencing bids in Texas on XL Eagle today. See them all.
  • 28 fencing solicitations in Texas in the last 12 months that we tracked (16 federal, 12 state and local).
  • Federal agencies made 263 contract awards worth $81.2 million for work performed in Texas under NAICS 238990 in FY2025 (Oct 2024 - Sep 2025).
  • Top federal buyers that year: Department of Defense ($74.9 million); Department of Homeland Security ($3.0 million); Department of Agriculture ($1.5 million).
  • Agencies posting this work most often in our data: Army, Air Force, US Customs and Border Protection, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  • Where these jobs get posted: Bonfire, OpenGov, Texas ESBD.

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

Who buys fencing work in Texas

  • Army posts such as Fort Bliss and Fort Cavazos, where perimeter, security and range fencing work is posted on SAM.gov.
  • Other Army and Air Force sites such as Fort Cavazos, Joint Base San Antonio, Dyess AFB and Sheppard AFB, which keep up long perimeter fences and gates.
  • The Texas Department of Transportation, whose standard specifications include chain link fence and metal beam guard fence.
  • State agencies and universities that bid campus, yard and parking lot fence on the Texas ESBD.
  • Cities and school districts that bid ball field, playground and facility fence.

Open fencing bids in Texas right now

All open fencing bids in Texas →

Licenses you need in Texas

TDLR's list of regulated industries does not name fence work, and we found no state fence contractor license on official pages. The rules are local. Frisco, for example, says fence permits are required for all fences built, with a small exception for repairing or replacing up to two sections or sixteen feet. Texarkana says no permit is required for fences, but they must stay inside private property lines and cannot be taller than eight feet. Always call the building department in the city or county where the fence goes. If the fence touches a pool, a road or a utility line, other rules can apply too.

Register to bid in Texas

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

  • Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD): The Texas Comptroller's search page for open bids from state agencies, universities, counties, cities, school districts and other public entities, and sign in is not required to look.
  • Texas SmartBuy: The state's purchasing site that sits beside the ESBD and is where many state agencies run their buying.
  • Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL): The state vendor list you join through the Comptroller's eSystems account, using NIGP codes for what you sell.
  • SAM.gov: The federal site where jobs at Texas bases and federal offices are posted, and where a business registers to bid as a prime.
  1. Get an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). The Comptroller does not accept a Social Security number for CMBL.
  2. Write down your business structure, your NIGP class and item codes, and the Texas highway districts where you can work.
  3. Create an eSystems profile on the Comptroller site, set a password and verify your email.
  4. Choose Apply for CMBL in eSystems and follow the prompts, then pay the annual fee.
  5. Search the ESBD every week for your trade and read each posting for the entity's own submission instructions.
  6. Apply for HUB certification if you qualify. It is separate from CMBL.

The Texas Comptroller lists the annual CMBL registration fee as $70, and HUB certification itself is free.

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

Small business certifications in Texas

  • Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program: A Texas-based small business that meets SBA size standards and is owned by Texas residents from the groups the state recognizes; certification is free and lasts several years.
  • VetHUB: A Texas-based small business where a service-disabled veteran with a rating of 20 percent or more owns, manages and runs at least 51 percent of the company; certification is free.

Wage rules on public jobs

Texas has its own prevailing wage law for public works, Texas Government Code chapter 2258. For construction work paid for by the state or a local government, the public body sets the wage rates, either from a local survey or from federal rates, and those rates are the minimum you must pay on that job. On federal jobs the U.S. Department of Labor rules apply instead: the Davis-Bacon Act for construction over $2,000 and the Service Contract Act for service contracts over $2,500. Always read the wage sheet attached to the bid.

What fencing jobs look like in Texas

  • Read the scope for fence type. Chain link, ornamental steel, wood and wire all have different post and rail needs.
  • Check the height, the gauge and the gate size. A bid for a six foot fence with a rolling gate is not the same as one for a four foot fence with a walk gate.
  • On roads, TxDOT names Item 550 for chain link fence and Item 540 for metal beam guard fence in its 2024 standard specifications. Read the item before you price.
  • Call before you dig. Utility lines on a base or a public site can stop a crew, so ask about locates and who pays.
  • Fence work on a base can need gate passes, escorts and vehicle inspection. Add time for this.
  • Federal fence construction usually carries Davis-Bacon wages. State and city public works can fall under Texas Government Code chapter 2258. Check the wage sheet.

Pricing fencing work for Texas public buyers

  • Price by the foot for each fence type, then add gates, corner and end posts, and any removal of the old fence as their own lines.
  • Count concrete, post depth and rock. Texas ground can be hard, so ask whether a site test is possible.
  • Get a written quote for steel, fabric and gates, and note how long the price holds. Metal prices move.
  • Add permits, locates, equipment rental and disposal of the old fence.
  • Plan a unit price for extra footage, so a longer run is paid at an agreed rate.

Mistakes that lose these bids

  • Assuming no state license means no permit. Some cities require a fence permit, so always check.
  • Pricing from a map without walking the line and finding trees, slopes, rock and buried lines.
  • Quoting a fabric gauge, height or gate that does not match the scope.
  • Skipping the site visit that many public fence bids make a requirement.

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 Texas. 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 Texas fencing job or read the national guide to government fencing contracts.

Frequently asked questions

Does Texas require a state fence contractor license?

We found no state fence contractor license on official pages, and TDLR's list of regulated industries does not name fence work. Local permit and registration rules differ, so check with the city.

Do I need a permit to build a fence for a Texas city?

It depends on the city. Frisco requires permits for new fences, while Texarkana says no permit is required. Call the building department before you bid.

Does TxDOT have fence standards?

Yes. TxDOT's 2024 standard specifications include Item 550 for chain link fence and Item 540 for metal beam guard fence. Check the item named in the bid.

Can I bid on a base fence job without my own SAM.gov registration?

As the prime you need one. If you send XL Eagle your price, XL Eagle writes and submits the bid as the prime, and you build the fence and get paid if it wins.

Sources

Have a price for a government job?

Send it to us. XL Eagle writes and submits the bid under our registrations, free to you. If we win, you do the work at your price.

Find a job and send your price →