Landscaping Government Contracts in California
Government landscaping contracts cover grounds maintenance, mowing, tree care, irrigation, and snow removal at federal installations, parks, cemeteries, and state facilities. Solicited under NAICS 561730 with an $9.5M size standard, they are accessible first contracts for small firms: recurring scopes, local performance, and frequent small-business set-asides. Agencies evaluate equipment capacity, crew scheduling, and seasonal surge ability.
Selling to government in California
California's Cal eProcure lists state bids and runs SB/DVBE certification — state agencies have a 25% small business participation goal. Federal opportunities concentrate around naval installations, federal courts, and major VA systems.
Cal eProcure — California's procurement portalLandscaping contract awards in California
Since Oct 2024, federal agencies recorded 484 federal landscaping and grounds maintenance contracts performed in California, obligating $140.6M. The largest buyer was the Department of Defense ($72.5M).
Top buying agencies
- 1. Department of Defense$72.5M
- 2. Department of Veterans Affairs$56.0M
- 3. Department of Homeland Security$4.5M
- 4. National Archives and Records Administration$1.8M
- 5. Department of the Interior$1.6M
Recent awards
- Veterans Landscape$710KDepartment of Veterans Affairs · 2026-10-01
Exercise oy2, 10/1/26 - 9/30/27
- J3 Enterprise LLC$215KDepartment of Veterans Affairs · 2026-10-01
Grounds maintenance and landscape services
- Department of Veterans Affairs · 2026-09-30
Pcd tree pruning and maintenance sdvosb multiple award bpas
- Federal Aviation Administration · 2026-09-23
Grounds maintenance at northern california tracon and oakland artcc
- National Park Service · 2026-09-23
Tree pruning and deadwood removal, whiskeytown national recreational area, shasta county, california
- Department of Veterans Affairs · 2026-09-23
Landscaping and grounds maintenance eo 14398 incorporated into contract award
Source: USASpending.gov contract award data, refreshed weekly.Search awards
Requirements to expect
- Grounds maintenance schedule meeting PWS frequencies (mowing heights, edging, fertilization)
- Pesticide/herbicide applicator licenses for chemical applications
- Equipment list adequate for the acreage and surfaces specified
- Service Contract Act wage compliance for laborers
- Snow/storm response times where included in scope
- Disposal and composting practices per facility rules
The full documents list and proposal checklist are in the Landscaping government contracts guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the federal government spend on landscaping in California?
Since Oct 2024, agencies obligated $140.6M across 484 landscaping and grounds maintenance contracts performed in California (NAICS 561730), an average of $290K per award. The Department of Defense is the largest buyer.
Where are landscaping bids posted in California?
Federal opportunities performed in California are posted on SAM.gov (filter by place of performance). State-level work is posted on Cal eProcure, and counties, cities, and school districts run their own portals — register with the largest ones in your service area.
Do I need to register with the state of California to bid?
For California state agency contracts, yes — register as a vendor on Cal eProcure. Federal contracts performed in California only require SAM.gov registration, though state small-business certifications can still help with subcontracting.
Are landscaping contracts good first government contracts?
Yes. Scopes are familiar, performance is local, and set-asides are common. The National Cemetery Administration and military bases regularly award grounds contracts to first-time federal contractors.
How is government landscaping priced?
Usually firm-fixed-price monthly or per-service-event rates against defined frequencies, with option years. Build SCA wages, equipment depreciation, and fuel into the rate — change orders are hard to get for underpriced base work.