Quick answer: The Ayangbah Foundation offers government contracting training for contractors, trades and suppliers in the Inland Empire. Our Government Contracting Academy covers SAM.gov registration, certifications, finding city, county, school district and federal bids, and proposal writing. Pair it with QuickBooks to track job costs. Classes run live online or in downtown San Bernardino.
Public agencies buy a lot of construction, repair, supplies and services every year. Cities pave streets. School districts replace roofs and HVAC systems. Federal installations need maintenance, materials and support. Yet many capable local contractors never bid, because the process looks confusing from the outside. It doesn't have to be.
Why Government Contracting Training for Contractors Matters Here
Look at the employer lists in our region and you'll see public buyers and construction firms side by side.
- Upland: three of the city's ten largest employers are construction and building companies: VCI Construction (458), Holliday Rock Co. (450) and Lewis Group (318), alongside Upland Unified School District (1,272) and the City of Upland (City of Upland 2025 ACFR).
- Grand Terrace: the city's business profile lists suppliers that sell to builders and trades, including Wilden Pump & Engineering, Superior Pool Products, Essco Wholesale Electrical and Riverside Winnelson. Manufacturing and distribution make up 10.4% of the city's roughly 2,719 jobs (City of Grand Terrace, Market Area & Business Profile).
- Hesperia: Hesperia Unified School District (2,817), the County of San Bernardino (648) and the City of Hesperia (261) are among the top employers, along with Arizona Pipeline Company (213) and Double Eagle Transportation (126) (City of Hesperia 2020 CAFR).
- Chino: the largest employers include Chino Valley Unified School District, two state correctional facilities (the California Institution for Men and the California Institution for Women) and the City of Chino (Champion Newspapers, 2024).
- Barstow: the top two employers are federal installations, Fort Irwin National Training Center (8,451) and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (1,935), and Raytheon Technical Services ranks sixth (City of Barstow 2025 report, via Wikipedia).
Schools, cities, the county, the state and the federal government all buy from private businesses. A contractor who knows how to find and win that work can add steadier revenue alongside private jobs.
What Our Government Contracting Training for Contractors Covers
1. Registering in SAM.gov
To do business with the federal government, you need an active registration in SAM.gov. According to the GSA's SAM.gov guide, there is no charge to register or maintain your registration, and you must renew every 365 days to stay active. We walk you through the steps and the common mistakes that cause delays.
2. Understanding certifications
Certifications can open doors to set-aside contracts and agency goals. In California, state departments have an annual goal of not less than 25% small business participation and not less than 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation (California State Contracting Manual, Chapter 12). We explain the common state and federal certifications and help you decide which ones fit your business.
3. Finding bids
Opportunities are spread across federal, state, county, city and school district portals. We show you where to look, how to read a solicitation, and how to decide whether a bid is worth your time.
4. Writing a proposal
A strong proposal follows instructions exactly, answers every requirement and prices the work realistically. We teach a clear, repeatable process so your team can respond faster each time.
The Academy runs as a cohort, so you learn alongside other owners. If you want to start smaller, our Friday Contracting Workshops cover one topic at a time ($97 each, or 4 for $297). Learn more on our Government Contracting Academy page.
QuickBooks Job Costing for Contractors
Public agencies expect accurate invoices and clean records. If you can't see what each job really costs, it's hard to price the next bid well. Our 12-hour QuickBooks Bookkeeping Essentials course ($297) teaches the bookkeeping basics behind job tracking, invoicing and financial reports. Our Microsoft Excel & Office Essentials course ($297) helps office staff build bid tabulations, schedules and cost sheets.
We Know This Process From the Inside
The Ayangbah Foundation is registered in SAM.gov ourselves (UEI PCHNA3S8NBV4, CAGE 249H1). Our founder and Executive Director, Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, holds a PhD in International Law, an M.A. in Economics and a BBA in Accounting, and teaches as a professor and economist. We teach what we've had to learn.
Training Your Office and Estimating Staff
Government contracting isn't only the owner's job. Estimators, project coordinators and office managers often do much of the paperwork. You can enroll staff in the Academy, the Friday workshops, QuickBooks or Excel, and every class is offered live online and in person in downtown San Bernardino, with day, evening and Saturday sessions. That works for a crew lead in Hesperia or an office manager in Barstow. See our incumbent worker training guide for more.
How to Partner With Us
Tell us about your trade, the agencies you'd like to work with, and who on your team needs training. We'll point you to the right starting point.
- Fill out our partnership form.
- Call (909) 454-7076 or email info@ayangbahfoundation.org.
- See all our employer and small business solutions.
FAQ
How do contractors get started with government contracting in California?
Start by registering your business in SAM.gov for federal work, then explore state and local certifications and bid portals. The Ayangbah Foundation's Government Contracting Academy walks Inland Empire contractors through each step.
Does it cost money to register in SAM.gov?
No. According to the GSA's SAM.gov guide, there is no charge to register or maintain a SAM.gov registration. You must renew it every 365 days.
Can small contractors bid on school district and city projects?
Yes. Cities, counties and school districts buy construction, repair and supplies from private businesses. Training helps you find those bids and write proposals that meet the requirements.
What is the DVBE participation goal in California?
California state departments have an annual goal of not less than 3% DVBE participation and not less than 25% small business participation, according to the State Contracting Manual.
Where can I find government contracting training for contractors near San Bernardino?
The Ayangbah Foundation offers its Government Contracting Academy and Friday Contracting Workshops in downtown San Bernardino and live online. Call (909) 454-7076 for upcoming dates.
Sources: City of Upland 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report; City of Grand Terrace, Market Area & Business Profile; City of Hesperia 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (via Wikipedia); Champion Newspapers, "Top employers in Chino Valley" (June 2024); City of Barstow 2025 principal employers (via Wikipedia); GSA, SAM.gov Quick Start Guide for Updating Entity Registrations; California Department of General Services, State Contracting Manual, Chapter 12 (Small Business and DVBE Contracting).