Guides
Find the work. Win the work.
Free guides to finding, pricing and winning public contracts in any trade, and to finding the roofs that need work.
Start public work
Your first public contracts.
How public bids work, what they ask for and the easiest ways in. It is easier than it looks.
- Start bidding26 min read
How to Get Your First Government Contract: A 30-Day Plan for Trade Companies
Prepare your first public bid with a 30-day plan, local purchasing thresholds, a cost example and a checklist for trade companies starting government work.
Read the guide - Public bids27 min read
How to Win Government Contracts: Your First Local Public Bid
Win your first city, county or school contract with a bidding checklist, award evidence, pricing steps and the mistakes that get bids rejected.
Read the guide - Win more work26 min read
How to Win More Government Bids Without Cutting Away Your Profit
Win more government bids by diagnosing losses before cutting price. Compare bidder counts, check submission rules, and protect profit with worked bid math.
Read the guide - Bid types27 min read
RFP vs RFQ vs IFB: What Public Buyers Want and How to Respond
Compare RFPs, both meanings of RFQ, IFBs, ITBs and RFIs. See what to submit, how awards work and real purchasing thresholds from three states.
Read the guide - Bid bonds26 min read
Bid Bonds Explained: Costs, Requirements and Your First Approval
Understand bid, performance and payment bonds, bond premiums, federal and state thresholds, SBA guarantees and the steps to build bonding capacity.
Read the guide - Subcontractor growth23 min read
How to Subcontract on Public Projects: Find GCs, Quote Well and Get Paid
Find 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.
Read the guide - Contractor certifications25 min read
Small 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.
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Find the bids
Find every bid worth your time.
Where public work is posted, how to hear about it early and which tools are worth paying for.
- Public bids25 min read
How to Find Government Bids in 2026: Every Source, Free and Paid
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.
Read the guide - Bid intelligence26 min read
What Is Bid Intelligence? Find Public Jobs Before the Bid Posts
Bid intelligence shows which public jobs are coming, what similar work paid and who won. Learn to read budgets, meeting records and expiring contracts.
Read the guide - Bid software24 min read
Best Government Bid Software in 2026: 16 Options Compared for Contractors
Compare government bid tools by local agency coverage, checked bids, early signs, award history and preparation help. See why Bid Control ranks first.
Read the guide - Bid Banana alternatives22 min read
Bid Banana Alternatives in 2026: Why Contractors Choose Bid Control
Compare Bid Banana with Bid Control on checked local bids, early signs, award history and preparation help. See pricing, access limits and alternatives.
Read the guide - BidNet alternatives26 min read
BidNet Direct Alternatives in 2026: Free Access, Cost and Better Bid Intelligence
Is BidNet Direct free? Learn what agency registration covers, what paid plans add, and how Bid Control, DemandStar and other alternatives compare.
Read the guide - Government sales tools27 min read
GovWin IQ and GovSpend Alternatives: The Best Government Sales Tools for Trade Companies
Compare GovWin IQ, GovSpend and alternatives for public work. See verified pricing details, local trade award data and why Bid Control is our top pick.
Read the guide - Cooperative contracts25 min read
Cooperative Purchasing Contracts: How Contractors Get On and Get Orders
Compare Sourcewell, OMNIA, BuyBoard, TIPS and NASPO ValuePoint. Learn how to compete for an award, price admin fees and develop agency orders.
Read the guide - Vendor registration28 min read
How to Become a Vendor for a City, County or School District in 2026
Register for city, county and school bids with the right forms, commodity codes and alerts. Includes verified Texas portals, registration costs and next steps.
Read the guide - Small public jobs23 min read
Government Contracts Under $50,000: A Map to Small Public Jobs
Find government contracts under $50,000 through quote lists and local buyers. Compare 2026 thresholds in seven states and follow a 60-day starting plan.
Read the guide - Bid results26 min read
How to Find Out Who Won a Government Contract and What They Bid
Find 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.
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Put the bid together
The paperwork that wins the job.
Every form a city, county or school wants back, the Texas extras, insurance, notaries, RFP answers and bid day.
- Packet walkthrough31 min read
Bid Package Checklist: What to Read, Fill Out and Send Back
A 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.
Read the guide - Bid rejection29 min read
Non-Responsive Bids: Why Low Bids Get Thrown Out, from Public Records
A 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.
Read the guide - Texas forms27 min read
Texas Bid Forms in 2026: Form 1295, CIQ, Verifications and Affidavits
Texas bid forms have different triggers and deadlines. Find Form 1295 filing steps, CIQ rules, small-company exemptions and the updated 2026 HUB plan.
Read the guide - Bid insurance25 min read
Insurance Requirements for Government Contracts: COI, Additional Insured and Limits
What city, county and school contracts require: an ACORD 25 read box by box, typical limits, additional insured and waiver endorsements, and Texas workers' comp.
Read the guide - Bid paperwork24 min read
Non-Collusion Affidavits, Bid Signatures and Notaries: The Last 48 Hours Before Bid Day
A 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.
Read the guide - RFP responses31 min read
How to Respond to a Government RFP: One Cleaning Proposal, Start to Finish
Answer a government RFP with a scoring plan, compliance matrix and defensible price. Follow one cleaning company's response for five city buildings.
Read the guide - Award rules24 min read
Does the Lowest Bid Always Win? Responsive, Responsible and Best Value Explained
No. Public buyers weigh compliance, contractor capacity and sometimes scored factors. See Texas award rules, local preferences and a worked price example.
Read the guide - Bid day23 min read
How to Submit a Sealed Bid: A Contractor's Bid-Day Timeline
Submit 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.
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Get help with bids
More bids out. Fewer late nights.
What a bid writer, an estimator, a bid team, software and AI each cost and do, and how many bids it takes to win one.
- Bid help26 min read
Help With Government Contract Bidding: Who Does What, and What Stays With You
Hand off public bid paperwork without losing control. Compare free APEX help, writers and bid teams, with a task map and checks before hiring anyone.
Read the guide - Bid writing costs30 min read
How Much Does a Bid Writer or Proposal Writer Cost? 2026 Prices for Contractors
Bid 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.
Read the guide - Staffing bids29 min read
Hire an Estimator or Outsource Bids? The Staffing Math for a Small Contractor
Hire for steady estimating work; outsource bid paperwork when pricing is covered. Compare Texas salary costs, packet hours and a 90-day capacity plan.
Read the guide - Software buyer's guide27 min read
Bid Management Software for Contractors Bidding Public Work
Choose bid software that handles public packets, forms and portal work. Compare tool categories, copy a bid tracking spreadsheet and test what you need.
Read the guide - Bid preparation26 min read
AI for Government Bids: What I Would Hand Over and What Stays With You
Use 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.
Read the guide - Bid win rates27 min read
How Many Bids Does It Take to Win One? Public Bid Win Rates by Trade
Three 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.
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Price it and grow
Win the money. Then keep winning.
What public contracts pay, how to price them and how to build a company on repeat public work.
- Steady work24 min read
How to Grow a Contracting Business Without Buying Leads
Replace bought leads with recurring commercial and public contracts. Compare acquisition costs, real trade awards, and a practical 90-day growth plan.
Read the guide - Bid decisions24 min read
What Is a Government Bid Worth? The Profit, Odds and Five-Year Value
Calculate 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.
Read the guide - Bid pricing24 min read
How to Price a Government Bid: Read the Bid Tabs Before You Name Your Number
Price government bids with past awards, bid tabulations and your job costs. Learn alternates, prevailing wage, bonds, retainage and multi-year pricing.
Read the guide - Original research24 min read
Government Contract Award Data 2026: Findings From 23,386 Public Bids
Original research on 23,386 public bids: bidder counts, award sizes, deadlines, bonds and forms, with sample sizes, source records and a downloadable CSV.
Read the guide - Business growth25 min read
How to Grow Your Contracting Business With Government Contracts
Build steady contracting revenue with small public jobs, strong references, bigger bids and recurring service work. See the growth ladder and public award data.
Read the guide - Recurring public work26 min read
Government Service Contracts: Turn One Bid Into Recurring Revenue
Build recurring public revenue with cleaning, grounds and maintenance contracts. Compare contract terms, price option years, protect margin and earn renewal.
Read the guide - Build your reputation26 min read
Government Contract References: Turn Good Work Into Bigger Public Jobs
Use private jobs, public subcontracts and small awards to build bid references. Includes a project-sheet template, real evaluation forms and CPARS guidance.
Read the guide - Getting paid28 min read
How Long Does the Government Take to Pay Contractors? Prompt Payment by State
Texas generally allows 30 days after the later invoice or performance date. Compare 12 states, retainage rules and the steps that keep invoices moving.
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By trade and buyer
Public work for your trade.
Cleaning, mowing, painting, building, IT, roofing and schools: who buys, what they pay and how to win it.
- School contracts25 min read
How to Bid on School District Contracts: Roofs, HVAC and Maintenance
Find school district bids, become a vendor, and price roofing, HVAC and maintenance work. Includes buying rules, summer schedules and award data.
Read the guide - Cleaning contracts26 min read
Janitorial Government Contracts: Find, Price and Win Cleaning Bids
Find government cleaning contracts, price labor and supplies, and avoid wage mistakes. See real janitorial awards, bidder counts and a worked bid example.
Read the guide - Grounds contracts23 min read
Government Landscaping Contracts: Find and Win City Mowing Work
Find city mowing and grounds bids, price acres and service cycles, and plan crews for recurring work. Includes Waco, Sarasota, and original award data.
Read the guide - Painting bids27 min read
Government Painting Contracts: Find, Price, and Win Public Work
Win public painting work with better takeoffs, prep pricing, product approvals, and school schedules. Includes original award data and wage guidance.
Read the guide - General contractor bids29 min read
Government Contracts for General Contractors: Find, Price, and Win
Find public construction jobs your company can win. Compare delivery methods, build a full price, line up subs and bonds, and plan the cash gap.
Read the guide - Public IT contracts26 min read
Government IT Contracts for MSPs: Municipal RFPs, Schools and E-Rate
Find municipal IT RFPs, school network bids and managed services contracts. Learn E-Rate rules, buying routes, compliance requirements and how to price the work.
Read the guide - Public roofing bids28 min read
Government Roofing Contracts: Find, Price and Win Public Roof Work
Find school and city roofing bids, check specifications and warranties, and price public roof work using real awards, wage rules and a worked estimate.
Read the guide - Texas bids32 min read
How to Bid on Government Contracts in Texas: A 2026 Playbook
Find Texas city, county and school bids, understand the 2026 purchasing rules, and build a bid schedule around the state's median 24-day deadline.
Read the guide - Paving bids28 min read
Paving Government Contracts: A Playbook for Asphalt, Sidewalks and Striping
Find city paving contracts, read unit-price schedules and avoid quantity traps. Includes award data, Texas bond rules and a 26-day bid plan.
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Roofers: find and reach
Find the right roofs and reach them.
Pick the homes and buildings worth your time. Then reach them by mail or at the door.
- Direct mail87 min read
Best Roofing Direct Mail: Targeting, EDDM, Costs, Creative, and ROI
Choose a roofing direct-mail system using a 128,000-mailer field experiment, targeted mail vs. EDDM math, creative examples, costs, and a vendor scorecard.
Read the guide - Canvassing & territory47 min read
Best Roofing Canvassing Software: Territory, Routing, Rep Briefs, and ROI
Compare roofing canvassing software and territory management using a 90,000-door field study, current pricing, route KPIs, pilot design, and rep workflows.
Read the guide - Lead generation49 min read
Roofing Lead Generation in 2026: Choose Channels by Profit, Not Lead Count
Compare roofing leads from search, referrals, CRM reactivation, direct mail, canvassing, and marketplaces using unit economics, capacity, and a 90-day plan.
Read the guide - Storm response56 min read
Roofing Storm Response: The Ethical Pre-Storm-to-30-Day Playbook
Prepare for hail and wind with an ethical roofing storm plan, NOAA data hierarchy, 24-hour and 30-day workflows, capacity controls, scripts, and study results.
Read the guide - Roofing property data23 min read
Roof Age Data: How to Find Old Roofs and Verify Age by Address
Compare roof permits, property records and aerial imagery. Find older roofs, understand insurance rules, and build a roofing list that is worth working.
Read the guide - Commercial roofing26 min read
Commercial Roofing Leads: Find the Right Buildings and Win the Account
Find commercial roofing prospects by roof age, material and building size. Reach the budget owner, sell useful surveys, and build a 90-day prospecting plan.
Read the guide - Roofing data24 min read
Best Roofing Data Providers in 2026: Roof-Age Lists, Storm Tools and Property Research
Compare roofing data providers by roof-age targeting, data quality and work left to your team. See why Ground Control ranks first for roofing lists.
Read the guide - Roofing growth24 min read
How to Get Roofing Jobs Without Buying Leads: Own Your Pipeline
Find roofing customers with roof-age lists, targeted mail, door knocking, referrals, and public bids. Compare full campaign costs with bought leads.
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Roofers: work them
Work the homes and jobs you have.
Follow up with past customers and old estimates, keep claim files in order and pick the tools that run the job.
- CRM reactivation49 min read
Roofing CRM Reactivation: How to Find the Money Already in Your Database
Clean, rank, and reactivate old roofing leads and customers with a 72,000-record experiment, segment scripts, compliance controls, ROI math, and a 30-day plan.
Read the guide - Claims & supplements59 min read
Roofing Insurance Claims and Supplements: A Lawful Operations Playbook
Improve roofing claims and supplement operations with Xactimate review, price reconciliation, evidence packets, role boundaries, KPIs, and a 30-day plan.
Read the guide - Roofing software49 min read
Best Roofing Software in 2026: CRM, Operations, Field, and Specialty Tools
Compare JobNimbus, AccuLynx, Roofr, ServiceTitan, Jobber, and specialty roofing tools by fit, current price, total cost, demo proof, and migration risk.
Read the guide - Roofing operations53 min read
Roofing Operations: A Lead-to-Cash System for Scaling Without Chaos
Build a roofing operating system with clear lifecycle stages, owners, SLAs, exception queues, KPIs, integrations, automation rules, and a 30/60/90-day plan.
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Ready to pick your homes?
Ground Control finds homes and buildings by roof age, material and size. Results in 24 to 48 hours after you order and pay.