How to Win Government Security Guard Contracts in California

Security services contracts in California are different from most trades. The state controls who can sell guard services, so licensing comes before everything else. If your paperwork is in order, you can compete for contracts at government offices, hospitals and public buildings.

Buyers include local governments on OpenGov, state agencies on Cal eProcure and federal agencies such as the VA on SAM.gov. Most jobs are posted guard hours: how many posts, which shifts, which days. Your bid turns those hours into a price.

You can bid on your own. If you hold the right license and would rather skip the portals, you can send XL Eagle your hourly rates. XL Eagle writes and submits the bid as the prime. If it wins, you provide the guards and get paid. You do not need your own SAM.gov registration to work this way.

Who buys security guard work in California

• Cities, counties, transit and special districts that post guard contracts on OpenGov.
• State agencies that post security services on Cal eProcure, including offices and public buildings.
• VA medical centers and clinics, which buy guard services for entrances, parking and patient areas.
• School districts and community colleges that need campus or event security.
• Courthouses, libraries and county buildings that need lobby or after-hours guards.
• Federal offices and facilities in California that post guard services on SAM.gov.

Open security guard bids in California right now

• Fire & Security Alarm Monitoring (Cal eProcure · Due November 3, 2026)
• Alarm Monitoring and Maintenance (Cal eProcure · Due November 6, 2026)
• Splunk Managed Security Services (Cal eProcure)
• Fire Monitoring Services (Cal eProcure)
• Security Guard Services (OpenGov)
• Alarm Monitoring and Inspection Services (Cal eProcure)

All open security guard bids in California →

Licenses you need in California

In California, a company that sells guard services needs a Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). BSIS says applicants must be at least 18, have two years and 4,000 hours of paid guard or patrol experience plus one year and 2,000 hours as a manager or administrator with a licensed PPO, pass an exam, and clear a criminal history review. A PPO must carry general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. Individual guards register with BSIS too, and its guard page lists the application, fingerprinting and training materials, including Power to Arrest training.

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.

1. 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.
2. Log in with the temporary password the system emails you, then set your own password.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 security guard jobs look like in California

• Read the post orders. Each post lists duties like door checks, visitor sign-in, patrols, report writing and who to call.
• Armed and unarmed guards cost very different amounts. Check which one the bid asks for before you price.
• Buyers want coverage with no gaps. Show how you fill a post when a guard calls out, such as a standby list and a supervisor on call.
• Federal guard contracts are usually service contracts, so Service Contract Act wage rates and benefits written in the contract set your labor cost.
• Expect background checks. Federal sites such as VA facilities can require checks before a guard stands a post.
• Daily reports and incident logs are often a contract requirement. Show a simple system for them in your proposal.

Pricing security guard work for California public buyers

• Price by post, not by guard. Count the hours each post runs per week, then add coverage for breaks and call-outs.
• Use the required wage and benefit rates, then add payroll taxes, workers comp and your liability insurance.
• Add supervision. One supervisor or a field check schedule is a real cost, and buyers expect to see it.
• Include uniforms, radios, vehicles and training time. Small items add up across many guards.
• Holidays and overtime are common in guard work. Ask whether the buyer wants a holiday rate and price it as its own line.

Mistakes that lose these bids

• Bidding without a PPO license. A buyer will check, and it is usually a fast rejection.
• Pricing guard hours with no cover for breaks, sick calls or training.
• Writing a generic proposal. Buyers want to see how you would staff their building.
• Forgetting insurance proof. Have the certificate ready before the deadline.

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 security guard 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 security guard job or read the national guide to government security guard contracts.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to sell security guard services in California?

Yes. A company needs a Private Patrol Operator license from BSIS, and the guards it uses register with BSIS as well. Without the license, you cannot legally offer guard services.

How much insurance does a PPO need?

BSIS lists commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per loss or occurrence. A buyer may ask for more, so read the bid.

Are armed guard contracts different?

Yes. Armed work has extra rules, training and costs. Only bid armed posts if your team is set up and licensed for them.

Can I send my hourly rates to XL Eagle?

Yes, if you hold the needed license. XL Eagle submits the bid as the prime and you provide the guards if the bid wins.

Sources

• DGS: Apply for Small Business and DVBE certification
• DGS: Cal eProcure portal
• DGS: How to Do Business with California Government brochure
• DIR: Public works contractor registration
• DIR: Public works and prevailing wage
• DIR: Prevailing wage determinations
• U.S. DOL: Service Contract Act
• U.S. DOL: Davis-Bacon and Related Acts
• DGS: How to Do Business with California Government (brochure)
• CPUC: Doing business with the CPUC (registration)
• BSIS: Private Patrol Operator FAQ
• BSIS: Security guard licensing
• USAspending.gov award search