SLED Series: Finding the Right SLED Opportunities: Portals, Forecasts & Partners
If you're a small business trying to break into government contracting, you’ve likely heard the term SLED—that’s state, local, and education procurement. Compared to the federal space, SLED is a patchwork of thousands of independent agencies, each with their own rules, platforms, and processes. Which means finding the right opportunities can feel like hunting for needles in a haystack… across 50 different fields.
But the upside? There are billions in annual spending, often with fewer compliance hurdles and faster award timelines than federal contracts. You just need to know where—and how—to look.
Here’s your roadmap for navigating SLED opportunities more strategically, without getting buried in the noise.
Where SLED Opportunities Actually Live
There’s no central SLED “SAM.gov.” So instead of one big portal, you’ll need to target a handful of key sources:
1. Statewide Procurement Portals
Every state has an official procurement or “bid” site. Some of the most active and transparent include:
These sites typically include:
Forecasts of upcoming solicitations
Current open bids/RFPs
Vendor registration and certification info (e.g., women owned small business certification, disabled veteran small business certification)
Pro tip: Don’t just skim for your service keywords. Look up your contractor NAICS code and cross-reference with awarded contracts in that state.
2. City and County Bid Boards
Local governments—especially large counties and major cities—often have their own procurement websites. Some even participate in statewide portals, but many still run independently.
Examples:
Cook County IL, City of Los Angeles, Miami-Dade County
Philly’s PHLContracts, Denver’s Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing
These sites often handle everything from school buses to IT upgrades to event services. Smaller agencies might not forecast far in advance, but they often move faster from RFP to award.
3. School District and Higher Ed RFPs
Education-related contracts are a huge slice of the SLED pie. Don’t ignore school districts, community colleges, and public universities—they issue their own RFPs for:
Curriculum and training
Facilities upgrades and maintenance
Technology systems
Staffing and consulting
Examples:
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
University of Texas System
State University of New York (SUNY)
Each system has different rules, but many prefer or even require vendors with certifications like SBA 8a certification, women business certification, or disabled veteran government contracts participation.
4. Cooperative Purchasing Programs
Want to skip the bidding line? Co-op programs allow agencies to "piggyback" off existing contracts. That means if you’re listed on one, you can be selected without a new RFP.
Top SLED co-ops include:
To get listed, you’ll usually need to respond to an initial competitive RFP—but once you’re in, dozens or even hundreds of agencies can buy from you without repeating the process.
How to Filter the Firehose
Even once you know where to look, SLED can overwhelm you with irrelevant solicitations. Use these filters:
NAICS code for government contractors: Stick to what you can actually deliver
Geography: Limit searches to your current registration states or where you can legally do business
Contract size: Set a realistic threshold—$25K–$500K is a typical sweet spot for SMBs
Set-asides or small business preference: Look for small business programs, DBE/MWBE goals, or local preference scoring
Bonus tip: Use tools like GovSpend, BidNet, or Onvia if you want to automate searches across multiple portals.
Why Partnerships Are Your Shortcut
One of the fastest ways into SLED contracting is teaming with a prime that’s already winning. This is especially true if you’re new to the space or don’t yet have a relevant performance history.
How to find potential partners:
Search recent awards by category or region
Attend state and local procurement fairs
Reach out to larger vendors listed on co-op contracts (like Sourcewell or OMNIA)
Pitch yourself as a value-add—especially if you hold valuable government contracting certifications like SBA 8a certification, SDVOSB, or WOSB.
Next Steps for Small Businesses
Here’s how to put this into practice:
Identify 3–5 states or localities you want to target this quarter
Register as a vendor in their official portals (don’t skip this step—it’s required to bid)
Build a search routine using your best NAICS codes for small business success
Start tracking and downloading RFPs that match your services
Reach out to 2–3 primes in your space and offer to team on future bids
Final Thoughts
Unlike the federal space, SLED success is all about local relationships, strategic targeting, and smart partnering. You don’t need to boil the ocean—just pick your lane, show up consistently, and align your certifications with the needs of specific agencies.
And remember: SLED dollars spend just as well as federal ones, and sometimes they land faster.
Want more guidance on choosing the right NAICS code for your SLED strategy? Check out our related blog post:Top NAICS Codes for Small Business Federal Contracts in FY2025 (So Far)
If you aren't a Squared Compass partner, what are you waiting for? From getting your business set up with specific government set aside programs at both the State and Federal level, to being empowered by a Fractional Capture team to win government contracts, to receiving tailored government contract opportunities Squared Compass delivers immense value which helps propel our partners to success. Schedule a chat with our team today.
