Bidding on government cleaning contracts in Georgia
How do I bid on a government cleaning contract in Georgia?
What a county janitorial bid looks like
A county cleaning bid is a sealed-price packet with fixed forms, insurance terms and a firm deadline. Late or incomplete bids are rejected, not negotiated.
Douglas County's courthouse solicitation is typical. It awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, and bids had to stay firm for 90 days after opening. Chatham County's Board of Health ran an optional pre-bid conference before its bid opening.
Go to the pre-bid meeting or walkthrough when there is one. It is the only chance to see the building before you price square footage, restrooms and floor care.
90 daysDouglas County's courthouse janitorial solicitation said the contract would go to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, and bids could not be withdrawn for 90 days after opening. — Douglas County Board of Commissioners, retrieved 2026-09-27
The forms that come with a public bid
Expect a checklist of sworn forms and statements beyond the price sheet. Missing any one of them can disqualify an otherwise good bid.
Chatham's packet listed attachments including a drug-free workplace statement, a smoke-free environment form, a nondiscrimination statement and a disclosure of responsibility. It also required a SAVE form and an E-Verify affidavit.
Gwinnett's bid asked for employee consent forms so the county could run background checks. Read the checklist first and gather the forms before you start pricing. The local license side is in the cleaning business license guide.
A Chatham County Board of Health janitorial bid packet required attachments including a drug-free workplace form, a nondiscrimination statement and a disclosure of responsibility statement. — Board of Health of Chatham County, Georgia, retrieved 2026-09-27
Insurance and bonds on public cleaning work
Public cleaning bids set insurance limits between $500,000 and $1,000,000 per occurrence in the Georgia examples here. Bonds vary from none to full performance bonds.
Gwinnett's standard terms for projects under $1,000,000 set $500,000 limits plus a $1,000,000 umbrella. Douglas County asked for $1,000,000 in general liability and reserved the right to require a performance bond over $1,000.
Price both before you bid. The certificate process is explained in how a certificate of insurance works, and bonds in what a janitorial bond covers.
$1,000,000Gwinnett County's standard insurance requirements for projects under $1,000,000 include a $1,000,000 umbrella liability policy. — Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, retrieved 2026-09-27
Federal work starts with SAM.gov registration
To bid directly on a federal contract, register your business in SAM.gov. Registration issues a Unique Entity ID and must be renewed every 365 days.
You can get a Unique Entity ID without full registration, but that does not let you bid directly on awards. Full registration is the route for a prime contract.
Put the renewal date in your calendar. An expired registration can stop an award or a payment. SBA size standards decide whether you count as small for set-aside contracts.
365 daysEntities that want to bid directly on federal contracts must register in SAM.gov and renew the registration every 365 days. — U.S. General Services Administration, SAM.gov, retrieved 2026-09-27
Service Contract Act wages on federal janitorial contracts
Federal cleaning contracts over $2,500 carry prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates under the Service Contract Act. You must pay at least those rates.
The Department of Labor issues a wage determination for each contract, on request from the contracting agency. It sets the hourly rate and fringe benefits for janitors in that locality. At or below $2,500, the federal minimum wage applies instead.
On contracts over $100,000, another law requires time and a half for laborers and mechanics working over 40 hours in a week. Read the wage determination attached to the solicitation before you price labor, because it can sit far above your usual pay rate.
| Contract value | What applies |
|---|---|
| $2,500 or less | Federal minimum wage |
| Over $2,500 | Prevailing wages and fringe benefits under the SCA |
| Over $100,000 | Also time and a half over 40 hours a week |
$2,500The Service Contract Act requires contractors on prime service contracts over $2,500 to pay service employees at least the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits. — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, retrieved 2026-09-27
$100,000On prime contracts over $100,000, laborers and mechanics must be paid at least one and one-half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, retrieved 2026-09-27
Bonding help for small firms
If a public buyer wants a bond you cannot get on your own record, SBA's surety guarantee can help. It covers contracts up to $9 million, or $14 million for federal work.
The guarantee works through authorized surety companies. SBA charges 0.6% of the contract price on guaranteed performance and payment bonds, and nothing on bid bonds.
Most janitorial contracts are far below those limits. The program matters because new firms have little bonding history for a surety to judge.
$14 millionSBA guarantees surety bonds on contracts up to $9 million for non-federal work and $14 million for federal work. — U.S. Small Business Administration, retrieved 2026-09-27
Start with one small public contract
Bid a small county or health department contract before a large one. It tests your insurance, paperwork and staffing on work you can actually cover.
A public contract also runs on the buyer's schedule. Gwinnett's carpet cleaning contract ran for a year with four renewal options, which rewards a firm that can keep its paperwork current.
Form the company and settle the insurance first, using the first commercial contract guide. Then watch your county's purchasing page for cleaning bids.
Gwinnett County's carpet and upholstery cleaning bid was for an annual contract with four options to renew. — Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, retrieved 2026-09-27
Questions
Does registering in SAM.gov cost anything?
SAM.gov registration is run by the federal government. Be careful of outside companies offering to register you for a fee, and check the official site before paying anyone.
Can a one-person cleaning company bid on a county contract?
Yes, if it can meet the insurance, staffing and scope in the bid. Read the insurance page and the service schedule first, since some buildings need crews every night.
Where do I find Georgia county cleaning bids?
Each county posts its own solicitations on its purchasing or procurement page. Health districts, school systems and cities post separately, so check each buyer you want to work for.