
Rafael Ortega
Rafael Ortega leads the Bid Team at PorchRocket. He and the team plan public bids with the owners of roofing, HVAC, paving, electrical, plumbing, cleaning and landscaping companies, pick the jobs worth chasing, pull what past winners bid and put the paperwork together so the owner can sign and send.
He works from Bid Control's records of public bids, meeting minutes and awards, which cover thousands of cities, counties, school districts and special districts. He works in English and Spanish.
Contractors can call or text him about a bid at (617) 913-6397.
Rafael's guides to public bids
Find government bids on federal, state, city, county and school websites. Compare free and paid sources, set up alerts, and catch work before bids open.
Original researchGovernment Contract Award Data 2026: Findings From 23,386 Public BidsOriginal research on 23,386 public bids: bidder counts, award sizes, deadlines, bonds and forms, with sample sizes, source records and a downloadable CSV.
Bid decisionsWhat Is a Government Bid Worth? The Profit, Odds and Five-Year ValueCalculate a government bid's value from contract size, margin, win odds and bid costs. See trade examples, five-year customer value and a bid/no-bid scorecard.
Bid pricingHow to Price a Government Bid: Read the Bid Tabs Before You Name Your NumberPrice government bids with past awards, bid tabulations and your job costs. Learn alternates, prevailing wage, bonds, retainage and multi-year pricing.
Bid intelligenceWhat Is Bid Intelligence? Find Public Jobs Before the Bid PostsBid intelligence shows which public jobs are coming, what similar work paid and who won. Learn to read budgets, meeting records and expiring contracts.
Public bidsHow to Win Government Contracts: Your First Local Public BidWin your first city, county or school contract with a bidding checklist, award evidence, pricing steps and the mistakes that get bids rejected.
Bid typesRFP vs RFQ vs IFB: What Public Buyers Want and How to RespondCompare RFPs, both meanings of RFQ, IFBs, ITBs and RFIs. See what to submit, how awards work and real purchasing thresholds from three states.
Bid bondsBid Bonds Explained: Costs, Requirements and Your First ApprovalUnderstand bid, performance and payment bonds, bond premiums, federal and state thresholds, SBA guarantees and the steps to build bonding capacity.
Cooperative contractsCooperative Purchasing Contracts: How Contractors Get On and Get OrdersCompare Sourcewell, OMNIA, BuyBoard, TIPS and NASPO ValuePoint. Learn how to compete for an award, price admin fees and develop agency orders.
School contractsHow to Bid on School District Contracts: Roofs, HVAC and MaintenanceFind school district bids, become a vendor, and price roofing, HVAC and maintenance work. Includes buying rules, summer schedules and award data.
Cleaning contractsJanitorial Government Contracts: Find, Price and Win Cleaning BidsFind government cleaning contracts, price labor and supplies, and avoid wage mistakes. See real janitorial awards, bidder counts and a worked bid example.
Public IT contractsGovernment IT Contracts for MSPs: Municipal RFPs, Schools and E-RateFind municipal IT RFPs, school network bids and managed services contracts. Learn E-Rate rules, buying routes, compliance requirements and how to price the work.
Public roofing bidsGovernment Roofing Contracts: Find, Price and Win Public Roof WorkFind school and city roofing bids, check specifications and warranties, and price public roof work using real awards, wage rules and a worked estimate.
Bid softwareBest Government Bid Software in 2026: 16 Options Compared for ContractorsCompare government bid tools by local agency coverage, checked bids, early signs, award history and preparation help. See why Bid Control ranks first.
Bid Banana alternativesBid Banana Alternatives in 2026: Why Contractors Choose Bid ControlCompare Bid Banana with Bid Control on checked local bids, early signs, award history and preparation help. See pricing, access limits and alternatives.
BidNet alternativesBidNet Direct Alternatives in 2026: Free Access, Cost and Better Bid IntelligenceIs BidNet Direct free? Learn what agency registration covers, what paid plans add, and how Bid Control, DemandStar and other alternatives compare.
Government sales toolsGovWin IQ and GovSpend Alternatives: The Best Government Sales Tools for Trade CompaniesCompare GovWin IQ, GovSpend and alternatives for public work. See verified pricing details, local trade award data and why Bid Control is our top pick.
Business growthHow to Grow Your Contracting Business With Government ContractsBuild steady contracting revenue with small public jobs, strong references, bigger bids and recurring service work. See the growth ladder and public award data.
Start biddingHow to Get Your First Government Contract: A 30-Day Plan for Trade CompaniesPrepare your first public bid with a 30-day plan, local purchasing thresholds, a cost example and a checklist for trade companies starting government work.
Build your reputationGovernment Contract References: Turn Good Work Into Bigger Public JobsUse private jobs, public subcontracts and small awards to build bid references. Includes a project-sheet template, real evaluation forms and CPARS guidance.
Subcontractor growthHow to Subcontract on Public Projects: Find GCs, Quote Well and Get PaidFind public-project GCs through plan holders, pre-bid lists and awards. Learn how to quote, check DBE goals, manage retainage and build prime-bid references.
Contractor certificationsSmall Business Certifications: Which Ones Help Contractors Win Work?Compare contractor certifications, Texas VetHUB and DBE rules, eligibility and review times. Choose credentials recognized by buyers of your trade.
Recurring public workGovernment Service Contracts: Turn One Bid Into Recurring RevenueBuild recurring public revenue with cleaning, grounds and maintenance contracts. Compare contract terms, price option years, protect margin and earn renewal.
Steady workHow to Grow a Contracting Business Without Buying LeadsReplace bought leads with recurring commercial and public contracts. Compare acquisition costs, real trade awards, and a practical 90-day growth plan.
Win more workHow to Win More Government Bids Without Cutting Away Your ProfitWin more government bids by diagnosing losses before cutting price. Compare bidder counts, check submission rules, and protect profit with worked bid math.
Grounds contractsGovernment Landscaping Contracts: Find and Win City Mowing WorkFind city mowing and grounds bids, price acres and service cycles, and plan crews for recurring work. Includes Waco, Sarasota, and original award data.
Painting bidsGovernment Painting Contracts: Find, Price, and Win Public WorkWin public painting work with better takeoffs, prep pricing, product approvals, and school schedules. Includes original award data and wage guidance.
General contractor bidsGovernment Contracts for General Contractors: Find, Price, and WinFind public construction jobs your company can win. Compare delivery methods, build a full price, line up subs and bonds, and plan the cash gap.
Bid writing costsHow Much Does a Bid Writer or Proposal Writer Cost? 2026 Prices for ContractorsBid and proposal writers charge $1,250 to $2,750 per state or local bid, and firms start at $10,000. See cost per win, fees vs awards and monthly options.
Bid helpHelp With Government Contract Bidding: Who Does What, and What Stays With YouHand off public bid paperwork without losing control. Compare free APEX help, writers and bid teams, with a task map and checks before hiring anyone.
Staffing bidsHire an Estimator or Outsource Bids? The Staffing Math for a Small ContractorHire for steady estimating work; outsource bid paperwork when pricing is covered. Compare Texas salary costs, packet hours and a 90-day capacity plan.
Bid rejectionNon-Responsive Bids: Why Low Bids Get Thrown Out, from Public RecordsA low bid can lose over a bond, signature or missed addendum. See public-record rejections, waiver limits and a checklist to catch errors before submitting.
Packet walkthroughBid Package Checklist: What to Read, Fill Out and Send BackA bid package contains the buyer's instructions and your return forms. Walk each page, check your price sheet and build a company file for the next bid.
Texas formsTexas Bid Forms in 2026: Form 1295, CIQ, Verifications and AffidavitsTexas bid forms have different triggers and deadlines. Find Form 1295 filing steps, CIQ rules, small-company exemptions and the updated 2026 HUB plan.
Bid paperworkNon-Collusion Affidavits, Bid Signatures and Notaries: The Last 48 Hours Before Bid DayA non-collusion affidavit swears your bid is your own. Who signs, when you need a notary, Texas fees, online notarization and the bond page that sinks low bids.
Bid insuranceInsurance Requirements for Government Contracts: COI, Additional Insured and LimitsWhat city, county and school contracts require: an ACORD 25 read box by box, typical limits, additional insured and waiver endorsements, and Texas workers' comp.
Software buyer's guideBid Management Software for Contractors Bidding Public WorkChoose bid software that handles public packets, forms and portal work. Compare tool categories, copy a bid tracking spreadsheet and test what you need.
Bid preparationAI for Government Bids: What I Would Hand Over and What Stays With YouUse AI to read bid packets, draft from your facts and check forms. See six prompts, agency disclosure rules and the decisions a contractor must keep.
RFP responsesHow to Respond to a Government RFP: One Cleaning Proposal, Start to FinishAnswer a government RFP with a scoring plan, compliance matrix and defensible price. Follow one cleaning company's response for five city buildings.
Bid resultsHow to Find Out Who Won a Government Contract and What They BidFind government contract winners, bid tabs and award amounts. Follow the records trail, copy a request template, and learn what to ask after a lost bid.
Bid win ratesHow Many Bids Does It Take to Win One? Public Bid Win Rates by TradeThree bidders means a one-in-three starting model, not a promised win. Compare public bid competition by trade and calculate your hours and cost per award.
Award rulesDoes the Lowest Bid Always Win? Responsive, Responsible and Best Value ExplainedNo. Public buyers weigh compliance, contractor capacity and sometimes scored factors. See Texas award rules, local preferences and a worked price example.
Vendor registrationHow to Become a Vendor for a City, County or School District in 2026Register for city, county and school bids with the right forms, commodity codes and alerts. Includes verified Texas portals, registration costs and next steps.
Getting paidHow Long Does the Government Take to Pay Contractors? Prompt Payment by StateTexas generally allows 30 days after the later invoice or performance date. Compare 12 states, retainage rules and the steps that keep invoices moving.
Small public jobsGovernment Contracts Under $50,000: A Map to Small Public JobsFind government contracts under $50,000 through quote lists and local buyers. Compare 2026 thresholds in seven states and follow a 60-day starting plan.
Texas bidsHow to Bid on Government Contracts in Texas: A 2026 PlaybookFind Texas city, county and school bids, understand the 2026 purchasing rules, and build a bid schedule around the state's median 24-day deadline.
Paving bidsPaving Government Contracts: A Playbook for Asphalt, Sidewalks and StripingFind city paving contracts, read unit-price schedules and avoid quantity traps. Includes award data, Texas bond rules and a 26-day bid plan.
Bid dayHow to Submit a Sealed Bid: A Contractor's Bid-Day TimelineSubmit a sealed bid before the buyer's deadline, save proof of receipt, and follow the opening. Get a timeline for portal uploads and paper delivery.