Rafa Bids Programming
What is Rafa Bids?
RafaBids is a 501(c)(3) bidding service in San Diego, CA that connects small businesses with government contracting opportunities.
Our Mission
To help small businesses unlock opportunity by promoting prime contracting and providing access to starter government contracts—so you can build a stable foundation for long-term success and growth.
Program Description
Rafa Bids was founded in 2021 by a dedicated group of volunteer architects, city planners, and educators with extensive experience in government contracting and working with government agencies. We operate under the umbrella of Parra & Associates LLC, based in Southeast San Diego, and are committed to empowering small and diverse construction businesses.
The program was created in response to the persistent underrepresentation of minority-owned prime contractors in government construction contracting. This lack of participation prevents millions of public dollars from reaching underserved communities and limits economic growth. Despite ongoing equity initiatives, diverse prime contractor representation in San Diego remains far below the region's demographic makeup.
Rafa Bids addresses this gap by providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to construction workers, subcontractors, and small construction businesses from historically underserved communities. The program focuses on helping participants transition into prime contractors by increasing their understanding of public procurement processes, improving bid readiness, and fostering direct connections with government agencies.
A core strategy of Rafa Bids is encouraging participants to bid on smaller public construction projects—typically under $100,000—offered by agencies such as the County of San Diego. These projects allow businesses to gain hands-on experience, learn agency requirements, build relationships with procurement staff, and establish a proven track record. This incremental approach positions participants to pursue larger government contracts as prime contractors over time.
Rafa Bids actively identifies and distributes public construction opportunities through organized bid sheets and targeted outreach to a growing network of eligible small businesses. Contractors participating in the program must hold a valid contractor's license, maintain appropriate insurance, and be registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).
Through this work, Rafa Bids strengthens the local construction workforce, increases participation of diverse firms in government contracting, and helps ensure that public investment more equitably benefits San Diego's communities.