How to Register as a Vendor in Colorado

What it's for

ColoradoVSS (formerly ColoradoBIDS) is where state agencies post solicitations and where vendors register, get email notices by commodity code, and respond online. The state calls it "a free site where you are able to view bids without any start-up cost or annual fees." You also get a vendor code used in the state's CORE financial system.

Have this ready

• Taxpayer ID (FEIN/EIN) or SSN, and your legal business name exactly as the IRS has it (approval depends on an IRS TIN match)
• Organization type, company name, and tax address
• Primary address and primary contact (name, phone, email)
• A security question and a user ID/password you'll remember
• Commodity/service codes for what you sell (optional at sign-up, but you need them for email notices)
• Business types/certifications (optional at sign-up)

Steps

Per the ColoradoVSS "New Vendor Registration" instructions:

1. Go to the ColoradoVSS site and choose to sign up.
2. Review and accept the Memorandum of Agreement, then read the Registration Tips.
3. Create your user account and verify your email with the code sent to you.
4. Search for an existing account by TIN (or last 4 of SSN) and legal name so you don't create a duplicate.
5. Enter account information: organization type, TIN, company name, tax address.
6. Enter primary address, primary contact, and business information/locations.
7. Add commodity/service codes and business types (you can do this later).
8. Review the summary and submit. You'll get a vendor code.
9. Wait for approval. The Central Approval team runs an IRS TIN match, which "can take up to 5 days." You'll get an email when it's approved or told why it wasn't.

Foreign (non-US) vendors have separate instructions on the VSS site.

After you register

• Add commodity codes once approved so you get email notices for matching solicitations.
• Use the watchlist to track bids and respond online.
• You can add more users and locations at no cost.
• Help desk: vsshelp@state.co.us, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. If your account was discontinued, you can send a current W-9 to that address.
• Renewal requirements were not stated on the pages checked.

Watch out for

• Construction and DOT are separate: CDOT highway and bridge construction bids post at codot.gov/business/bidding and generally require CDOT prequalification. CDOT goods and services also use the CDOT Business Center.
• Not every agency uses VSS: several universities post on other systems, which may charge fees. The state's index of where departments post is on the Office of the State Controller's solicitations page.
• Name mismatch = rejection. Enter the legal name exactly as on IRS records.
• Paid third-party "registration services" are unnecessary. ColoradoVSS is free.

Certifications and bid preferences in Colorado

• Colorado SDVOSB Contracting Goal and Preference; DPA Statewide Supplier Diversity Program and Directory

Standard bid forms for Colorado

These are the forms bidders are most often asked to sign or attach on Colorado state bids. Each bid lists exactly which ones it needs, and many agencies attach their own copies, so always use the version in the bid documents when there is one.

Sources

• vss.state.co.us/vendor-topics/registration/registration-instructions/new-vendor-regis
• vss.state.co.us/vendor-topics/registration/registration-faqs/registration-approval-fa
• vss.state.co.us/vendor-topics/general-information/costbenefit-faqs
• vss.state.co.us/vendor-topics/solicitations/faqs/accessing-and-viewing-solicitations-
• www.codot.gov/business/bidding

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any government agency. Registration is free or low cost on official sites; you don't need to pay a third party. Always follow the official portal's instructions.