West Virginia SWAM Certification and Reciprocity: Status and What to Do

What happened

Senate Bill 755 passed the Legislature on March 11, 2026, was approved by the Governor on March 17, 2026, and took effect June 9, 2026. Its title says it is about "removing the requirement that state agencies submit annual progress reports on small, women, and minority-owned business procurement to the Department of Administration." The reciprocity language in W. Va. Code §5A-3-59 is not new. The section dates to 2010, and SB 755 reenacted it. That language calls for certification "without any additional paperwork or fee" for a vendor certified under a program that meets West Virginia's minimum requirements. It also says the state's programs "shall deny certification to vendors from states that deny like certifications to West Virginia-based" small, women- or minority-owned businesses.

What it means for your bids

• SWAM certification is still offered through the Purchasing Division. The Division's page says it lasts two years.
• SB 755 did not change how SWAM certification is earned or used on bids. It removed a reporting duty for agencies.
• Firms from states that do not recognize West Virginia certifications, or that give in-state-only preferences, can be denied West Virginia certification under the long-standing rule.
• Bid documents still use the vendor registration forms (WV-1 or WV-1A), which include the SWAM certification application.

What to do now

1. Check your vendor registration and SWAM status in wvOASIS Vendor Self-Service. Details: https://www.state.wv.us/admin/purchase/VendorReg.html
2. Recertify every two years to keep the status.
3. If you are certified in another state, ask the Purchasing Division whether your home state is treated as reciprocal before you rely on that certificate.
4. Keep copies of your certificate and your registration forms.

Watch out for

• Some summaries describe SB 755 as a new reciprocity law. The bill text and the code history show the reciprocity rule existed before 2026.
• Vendor registration has a $125 annual fee for contracts over $5,000. The Purchasing Division page does not list a separate SWAM fee.
• Help from the Purchasing Division is free: Purchasing.VendorRegistration@wv.gov or 304-558-2311.
• The Department of Administration sets the details by rule. A rule change could affect status.

Programs in other states →

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Sources

• code.wvlegislature.gov/signed_bills/2026%5C2026-RS-SB755-ENR_signed.pdf
• www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=755&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btyp
• code.wvlegislature.gov/5A-3-59/
• www.state.wv.us/admin/purchase/VendorReg.html

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Status can change quickly with court orders and new laws, so confirm with the program office before you rely on it.