Get on Board

California is the largest and most diverse state in the nation, with an equally diverse business population. The Authority is committed to advancing equitable inclusion and utilization of California’s small businesses in state procurement and contracting opportunities. The Small Business Program supports business owners from underrepresented groups, including veterans, women, and minorities such as African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Tribal and Native Americans, and the LGBTQ+ community. A diverse supple chain strengthens communities and bolsters California’s economic sustainability.

Explore the resources below designed to help your small business become state contract ready!

Learn how to Get on Board with the Authority in four easy steps:

Get Certified
Prepare to Bid
Win the Bid
Understand the Contract

Welcome aboard!

Jump To
Get Certified | Prepare to Bid | Win The Bid | Understand the Contract | Your Business Is On Board

Become a Small Business Partner in Four Easy Steps

Step 1 - GET CERTIFIED: Learn about the certifications that the Authority accepts, how to get certified and next steps you can take once you are certified.

Getting properly certified is the first step in securing work on the High-Speed Rail Program. The Authority is not a small business certifying agency but recognizes the small business certifications from the California Department of General Services, the California Unified Certification Program, and the Small Business Administration.

Learn more about getting certified

Step 2 - PREPARE TO BID: Learn about the Authority bidding process, and key resources to utilize in preparing to bid.

Having a clear plan prior to bidding on a contract will improve your chances of a successful bid. The bidding process is supported by the Prime Small Business Liaison Officer, the Authority Small Business Advocate, the Authority Small Business Team, and the Authority Small Business Compliance Team.

Learn more about preparing to bid

Step 3 - WON THE BID: Learn about the considerations and preparation to take before signing the awarded contract.

Knowing what questions to ask and evaluating several considerations before you sign a contract will help confirm if the contract is right for your small business.

Learn more about winning the bid

Step 4 - POST AWARD EVENT: Learn about post award considerations, key contacts and resources, that will assist you in building a successful business relationship.

Reading the contract thoroughly and understanding the roles and responsibilities of key players – both within the Authority and your Prime – will be important for successfully navigating forward and troubleshooting issues if needed.

Learn more about post-award strategies

Step 5 - YOUR BUSINESS IS ON BOARD: Welcome aboard!

Take advantage of small business events held regularly across the state for ongoing networking and updates on High-Speed Rail progress and activities. Outreach events are listed in the HSR Small Business Newsletter and online. Visit Build HSR for construction updates, interactive maps and images of the project.

Learn more about what’s next

Contact

Small Business Program
(916) 431-2930
sbprogram@hsr.ca.gov

The California High-Speed Rail Authority makes every effort to ensure the website and its contents meet mandated ADA requirements as per the California State mandated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA standard. If you are looking for a particular document not located on the California High-Speed Rail Authority website, you may make a request for the document under the Public Records Act through the Public Records Act page. If you have any questions about the website or its contents, please contact the Authority at info@hsr.ca.gov.