The Electronic State Business Daily is the Texas website where state agencies post solicitations, including construction bids. It is found at txsmartbuy.com/esbd.

Is the ESBD free to use?

Yes. Searching posted solicitations on the ESBD is free.

Can I get email alerts for new bids?

Registering on the Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL), which costs $70 a year, lets state agencies send you bid notices that match your commodity codes.

Are city and school district bids on the ESBD?

Some local governments post there, but most cities, counties and school districts use their own portals. In Dallas, the City and Dallas ISD both use Bonfire.

How to Find Texas State Construction Bids on ESBD

October 17, 2026 · Northlane Enterprises

If you want to bid on Texas state construction work, the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) is where you start. State agencies post their solicitations there, from small repair jobs to major building projects.

Where to find it

The ESBD lives at txsmartbuy.com/esbd, part of the Texas SmartBuy site run by the Texas Comptroller. Searching is free.

How to search

The search page lets you filter by:

Keyword, such as "roof", "HVAC" or "renovation"
Agency, such as a university or state department
Commodity or NIGP code, the category codes for goods and services
Status, such as posted, closed or awarded
Date range

Tips for better results

Search for several keywords that describe your work, not just one.
Use the construction-related NIGP codes that match your trades.
Check the "awarded" status to see who won past bids and at what price.

What you will find in a posting

Each solicitation lists:

The agency and contact person
The due date and time
Attachments with drawings, specifications and forms
Addenda posted after the original release

Download everything and check back for addenda until the due date.

Set up bid notices through the CMBL

The ESBD does not require you to register to search. But if you want agencies to send you notices, register on the Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL). According to the Texas Comptroller, the CMBL costs $70 a year, and you are not required to be on it to do business with the state. Once registered, agencies can find you by your commodity codes and send matching bid notices.

Do not forget local portals

Cities, counties and school districts mostly post on their own systems. In Dallas–Fort Worth, that means checking:

The City of Dallas Bonfire portal
Dallas ISD's Bonfire portal and its bond vendor opportunities page
County purchasing pages, such as Dallas County and Tarrant County

Build a weekly routine

Set aside time each week to:

Search the ESBD with your saved keywords and codes
Check your local portals
Download new packages and note the pre-bid and due dates
Decide which bids to pursue

A steady routine is what keeps a bid pipeline full.

Bidding with Northlane Enterprises

Northlane Enterprises tracks public construction bids across Dallas–Fort Worth and assembles teams of licensed trade partners to deliver them. See the projects we are pursuing on our bid opportunities page, or join our subcontractor network.