How to Register as a Vendor in Louisiana

What it's for

Louisiana's Office of State Procurement (OSP) posts state solicitations on LaPAC, the Louisiana Procurement and Contract Network. You enroll as a vendor in LaGov, the state's business system, so you get email notices of LaPAC bids that match your commodity classes and so you're set up to be awarded and paid.

Have this ready

• Legal business name and FEIN/EIN (or SSN for sole proprietors)
• A completed federal W-9. You must submit it before you can receive an award.
• Registration and good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State. OSP's vendor guide says you need this for state contracts.
• UNSPSC commodity class codes for what you sell. OSP has a UNSPSC search and tree tool.
• Contact name, email, phone and addresses
• Hudson or LaVETS small business certification from Louisiana Economic Development, if you want to use those programs (applied for separately)

Steps

1. Read OSP's Registration Information page and download the helpscripts: Vendor Registration, Phases of Vendor Registration, and UNSPSC Commodity Codes.
2. Look up your UNSPSC commodity class codes with OSP's search tool.
3. Open the LaGov Vendor Enrollment Portal and fill out the New Supplier Registration form.
4. Submit, then close all your browser windows, as OSP tells you to.
5. Watch your email for your permanent User ID (your LaGov Vendor Number) and a link to set your password.
6. Log in to the vendor portal to finish or update your company information and product categories.
7. Browse open bids on LaPAC by category, by department, or with Search for Open Bids.

After you register

• LaPAC automatically emails you solicitations that match your commodity classes, so keep those classes accurate.
• Log in to the LaGov vendor portal to update company data, users and categories, and to look up payments.
• Send your W-9 before any award, and keep your Secretary of State standing current.
• A renewal schedule was not confirmed in official sources.
• OSP phone: 225-342-7000 or 800-354-9548.

Watch out for

• Construction and DOT. State building construction from Facility Planning & Control is advertised on its own Construction Bid Advertisements page (doa.la.gov), though some items also show up on LaPAC. DOTD handles its own transportation construction.
• Small purchases under the Governor's small purchase executive order limits may never reach LaPAC, so market to agencies directly.
• Paid services. Enrollment is officially free. You don't need a paid third-party "registration service."

Sources

• www.doa.la.gov/doa/osp/vendor-resources/registration-information/
• www.doa.la.gov/media/4zfkayaq/vendor-guide-final.pdf
• wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/Vendor/VndPubMain.cfm?tab=2
• wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/pubmain.cfm
• www.doa.la.gov/doa/fpc/project-administration-state/construction-bid-advertisements-

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.