Civic Marketplace for small and diverse Suppliers

We built Civic Marketplace as a cooperative purchasing marketplace that puts TXShare, Alliance for Innovation (AFI) and city-awarded contracts in one place. TXShare is the cooperative purchasing program of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). Suppliers show certification badges, such as Small Business Enterprise (SBE) or veteran-owned status, on their profile and add National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) codes to appear on more quote requests. Public buyers on Civic Marketplace are Entities: agencies, schools, universities and municipalities. Registering and quoting are free, and fees apply only to awarded sales. A listing makes you visible to public agencies. You still compete for each award.

Where small Suppliers win work

Start from fit

The right marketplace for a small Supplier is the one that turns a listing into a paid award. That depends on your certifications and the area you serve. It also depends on whether you are ready to hold a prime contract or need to start as a subcontractor. Weigh the same factors for cooperative programs such as Sourcewell, OMNIA Partners, NASPO ValuePoint, TIPS and BuyBoard.

A contract makes you eligible

When an agency requests a quote under a cooperative contract on Civic Marketplace, it chooses which Suppliers to invite, sets out its needs and gives a deadline. It can invite only Suppliers active on that contract, so holding the contract makes you eligible, and you still compete with the other invited Suppliers for the purchase.

Work outside a contract

Quick Quote and the City of Brownsville First Quote Program let you win work through Civic Marketplace outside a cooperative contract. For purchases within their purchasing rules, Quick Quote lets buyers gather quotes from Suppliers for goods, equipment or services without running a formal solicitation.

Badges help buyers find you

Agencies on Civic Marketplace can source Suppliers by certification, including historically underutilized business (HUB), women-owned small business (WOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and minority business enterprise (MBE). Your badges sit on your profile beside the Verified Supplier badge, which matches your business name to your tax ID. Each certification comes from the program that issues it.

DBE is a USDOT program

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) runs the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program for DOT-assisted contracts. State transportation agencies certify firms through a Unified Certification Program in each state. USDOT notes that most DBEs "participate as subcontractors on federally assisted projects", which makes teaming a practical first step.

Routes in for small Suppliers

Subcontract first

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) describes prime and subcontracting this way: "Unlike prime contractors, subcontractors do not work directly with the government, but instead work for other contractors." The SBA adds that this "allows contractors that are not prepared to work directly with a federal agency to still participate in Federal procurements."

Team up with a partner

For federal contracts, the SBA's contracting assistance programs add two more routes. Joint ventures "allow certain businesses to compete together for government contracts reserved for small businesses." The Mentor-Protégé program lets a small business learn from an experienced government contractor.

Your goal, your first step

Rules buyers work under

Texas Local Government Code

Section 252.0215 of the Texas Local Government Code says a municipality, "in making an expenditure of more than $3,000 but less than $100,000, shall contact at least two historically underutilized businesses on a rotating basis". The statute requires contact, and the award still goes through competition. Brownsville's procurement FAQ states: "All vendors, including HUB-certified businesses, must participate in the applicable competitive procurement process."

Grant-funded purchases

When an Entity buys with federal award funds, 2 CFR 200.321(a) applies. It asks that, when possible, "small businesses, minority businesses, women's business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses, and labor surplus area firms" be considered.

How Civic Marketplace fits

Brownsville First Quote

The City of Brownsville First Quote Program, powered by Civic Marketplace and announced on July 16, 2026, gives Brownsville Suppliers a simpler way to win city work under $100,000. Quote requests are matched to your NIGP categories. Joining is free, and you get your own Civic Marketplace storefront. The program is designed for SBEs and local Suppliers.

Why Brownsville joined

On July 16, 2026, Damian Espinoza, Procurement Director for the City of Brownsville, said: "We view procurement as a way to build lasting economic connections with local businesses while enabling top-performing suppliers to grow beyond city boundaries."

Al Hleileh, Co-founder and CEO of Civic Marketplace, said the same day: "The City of Brownsville is demonstrating leadership in modern public procurement by prioritizing transparency, competition, and access for small and local businesses."

Reach after an award

TXShare and AFI have a reciprocity agreement. Members of TXShare and of AFI can use the combined portfolio of contracts without signing another interlocal agreement.

Elisa Littrell, Purchasing Agent at TXShare and NCTCOG, told Suppliers on April 9, 2026: "Being awarded a TXShare contract is no small accomplishment."

Dallas and Denton contracts

The City of Dallas uses Civic Marketplace as its official platform for its awarded contracts and Suppliers, so other public Entities can find them. Taking part is voluntary for Dallas-awarded Suppliers, and those who take part keep Dallas-approved pricing. The City of Denton hosts its cooperative contracts on Civic Marketplace. Lori Hewell, Denton's Purchasing Manager, said on February 24, 2026: "This initiative creates additional opportunities for local and small businesses by increasing their visibility to other entities, driving greater contract utilization without additional bidding cycles."

What it costs

Free until you sell

Under our Supplier Fee Schedule, updated September 30, 2026, registration, your storefront, receiving opportunities and quoting are free, and agencies pay nothing to use the platform. A fee applies only when a sale closes. Only one fee ever applies to a sale.

Rates by contract

The Cameron County exemption is an interim City measure and may change on the City's written notice.

Keep watching local bids

Larger work still runs through each Entity's formal process. In Brownsville, formal competitive solicitation procedures apply when expenditures exceed $100,000 in City funds, unless a statutory exemption applies, according to the City's procurement FAQ. Keep checking city, county and school-district solicitations alongside your profile.