Georgia State Procurement

Georgia is the economic hub of the Southeast, and its state procurement market reflects that status, spending over $5 billion annually on goods and services. Atlanta serves as a major logistics, technology, and financial services center, drawing corporate investment that also influences the public sector's demand for modern IT, transportation, and professional services. Georgia's procurement is centralized through Team Georgia Marketplace, which provides vendors with electronic access to solicitations, awards, and statewide contract details. Vendors who understand Georgia's two-path structure for small business access find a market with accessible entry points at multiple spending levels.

Overview

The Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), State Purchasing Division, is the central procurement authority under the Georgia Procurement Manual and O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 5. DOAS establishes statewide contracts, certifies small businesses, and manages the Team Georgia Marketplace procurement system. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) manages highway and bridge solicitations independently. Other major buyers include the Department of Community Health (Medicaid), the Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections, and the University System of Georgia (USG) with its 26 institutions. Annual state procurement spending, including USG, exceeds $5 billion.

Where opportunities are posted

Team Georgia Marketplace (doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/team-georgia-marketplace) is Georgia's e-procurement portal for all state agency solicitations. Vendors register in the system to receive solicitation alerts and submit electronic bids. GDOT posts highway and bridge construction solicitations on its Bidding Information page (gdot.org). The University System of Georgia uses a separate eProcurement system (usg.edu/procurement) for university-specific solicitations. Federal pass-through opportunities appear on SAM.gov. DOAS also posts statewide contract awards and pricing on its state contracts page.

What they buy

Georgia's top procurement categories span multiple industries:

• Healthcare and Medicaid: managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, long-term care, and dental services for Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare, administered by the Department of Community Health.
• Information technology: enterprise systems, cybersecurity, cloud services, and statewide broadband for a state government modernizing digital infrastructure.
• Transportation and construction: highway expansion, bridge work, transit, port improvement at the Port of Savannah (the busiest port on the East Coast), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport-related projects.
• Education: instructional materials, technology, and professional development for Georgia's K-12 system serving over 1.8 million students, plus research and graduate services at USG institutions.
• Professional services: engineering, architecture, legal, financial, and program management services across state and university buyers.
• Human services: child welfare, workforce development, substance abuse treatment, and services for the aging, across multiple agencies with overlapping programs.

Small business and diverse vendor programs

Georgia operates two distinct tracks for small and diverse business access. DOAS's Small Business Growth Facilitation (SBGF) program assists small businesses in competing for state contracts through counseling, certification, and outreach but does not apply a mandatory price preference. Georgia's formal supplier diversity program, administered by DOAS, certifies Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs). These certifications provide access to set-asides on designated solicitations and preferred consideration in agency diversity goal reporting.

GDOT administers a federal DBE program under 49 CFR Part 26 for transportation contracts funded with federal dollars. GDOT's certification is accepted across the state's transit and airport solicitations with federal funding. The certification process requires demonstrating ownership, control, and personal net worth within federal thresholds.

Georgia also recognizes veteran-owned businesses through coordination with the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, though the state does not maintain a mandatory SDVOSB preference program equivalent to some other states.

How to win state contracts

Register in Team Georgia Marketplace at doas.ga.gov and complete your vendor profile with NIGP commodity codes. Registration is free, and the system sends email solicitation alerts for your selected codes. For SBE, MBE, or WBE certification, apply to DOAS Supplier Diversity; the process takes four to eight weeks and is free.

Georgia's competitive thresholds require formal sealed bids or RFPs for purchases above $100,000. Purchases between $5,000 and $100,000 use informal competitive processes. Purchases under $5,000 are generally exempt. Georgia's informal range ($5,000 to $100,000) is significant for small businesses, as agency buyers frequently use it for recurring service needs without a formal solicitation.

Statewide contracts administered by DOAS are a primary purchasing vehicle for Georgia agencies. Vendors on active statewide contracts can receive purchase orders from any state agency and many local governments without a separate competitive solicitation. DOAS re-solicits statewide contracts on a regular cycle, and vendors should monitor Team Georgia Marketplace for upcoming competitions.

The University System of Georgia represents a substantial market in its own right, with 26 institutions each operating independent procurement offices under USG policy. Major universities like Georgia Tech, UGA, and Georgia State have active research and facilities budgets. Vendors interested in the USG market should register in the USG eProcurement system separately from Team Georgia Marketplace and cultivate relationships with individual university procurement offices.

GDOT prequalification is required for highway construction contracts above specified thresholds. Engineers and architects use GDOT's qualifications-based selection process. Both require applications submitted well ahead of target solicitation dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register to bid on Georgia state contracts?

Register for free on Team Georgia Marketplace at doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/team-georgia-marketplace. You will need a federal EIN or SSN, a W-9, and NIGP commodity code selections. After registration, you receive email solicitation alerts and can submit electronic bids. Separate applications to DOAS Supplier Diversity are needed for SBE, MBE, or WBE certification.

What are Georgia's competitive bid thresholds?

Formal competitive solicitations (sealed bids or RFPs) are required for most state agency purchases above $100,000. Purchases between $5,000 and $100,000 use informal competitive processes requiring quotes from at least three vendors. Purchases under $5,000 are generally exempt from competition. University System of Georgia institutions follow USG procurement policies with similar thresholds.

Can Georgia state agencies buy from the University System of Georgia's statewide contracts?

No, the University System of Georgia's eProcurement system and statewide agreements are separate from the executive branch Team Georgia Marketplace. Executive agencies use DOAS statewide contracts; USG institutions use USG contracts. Vendors serving both markets should register in both systems. Some DOAS statewide contracts are extended to local governments and educational agencies, so reviewing DOAS contract piggyback provisions is worthwhile.

How does Georgia's DBE program work for GDOT contracts?

GDOT administers a DBE certification program under 49 CFR Part 26 for federally funded highway, transit, and aviation contracts. Certified DBEs benefit from participation goals set on individual GDOT contracts. Applications are submitted to GDOT's Office of Civil Rights and Social Responsibility, and certification is valid for two years. GDOT DBE certification is separate from DOAS MBE/WBE certification and uses federal personal net worth and ownership criteria.