It's easier now to find out what government wants.(public contracts)(Brief Article)

Government is a big spender, and Web sites and e-mail notification are making it easier to learn about contract opportunities

More than $5 billion worth of government contracts are generated annually in the Sacramento area, so selling to the government can be a significant source of income for local business.

From paper clips to police cars, local government needs and buys a wide range of products and services. Often the same things are bought over and over again, and many of the contracts have three-year terms with two one-year renewals. So once a business navigates the process and secures a contract, the task is easier to manage.

While bidding for government contracts remains a complex and sometimes costly and frustrating experience, finding out about bid opportunities is getting easier. Over the last few years, all levels of government have developed Web sites that not only explain the requirements for submitting a bid, but sometimes even have bid documents available for downloading.

The state of California, the largest source of government contracts, has modified its bid procedure as a …