How to Register as a Vendor in Minnesota

What it's for

Minnesota's Office of State Procurement (OSP) runs bids through the SWIFT Supplier Portal. You can register there as a Bidder or as a Supplier:

• Bidder is a quick, minimal sign-up that lets you respond to solicitations and get email notices.
• Supplier collects payment and purchasing details and is needed before the state pays you.

Have this ready

• Tax ID (FEIN, or SSN for a sole proprietor) and your legal entity type
• Legal business name and website
• Primary address and a business email
• At least one contact person: name, title, email and phone
• UNSPSC category codes for what you sell. These are optional at sign-up but are what drive your email notices.
• For Supplier registration or conversion later: payment and purchasing information such as remit-to address and banking

Steps

1. Go to OSP's Supplier Portal page and follow the link to the portal to register as a Bidder or a Supplier. If you only want to bid, choose Bidder.
2. Choose your TIN type and legal entity type.
3. Enter your TIN, legal name and website.
4. Enter your primary address and email.
5. Add at least one contact with a phone number.
6. Search for and add UNSPSC category codes that match your goods or services.
7. Review your entries, accept the terms, and submit for approval.
8. Wait for the approval email. The state's guide says to allow up to three days.

After you register

• You will get email notices for opportunities in the categories you chose. Update your categories and contacts in the portal (SWIFT has a separate "Update Bidder Profile" guide).
• If you win a contract as a Bidder, the state emails you asking you to convert to a Supplier and add the rest of your information. The state reviews Supplier registrations before approving them.
• Also check the weekly State Register (published Mondays) and the Solicitation Announcements page. Some opportunities are posted there.

Watch out for

• Postings are split. Goods and services go through the Supplier Portal, and professional/technical contracts have their own OSP postings page.
• State building construction is posted in OSP's Construction Virtual Plan Room on QuestCDN. MnDOT and Minnesota State colleges and universities post their bids separately.
• Some larger contracts require a workforce Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Human Rights. OSP notes that department "is authorized to charge a fee" for it.
• Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged and Veteran-Owned (TG/ED/VO) small business certification is a separate process. See OSP's Equity in Procurement pages.
• Portal registration is something you do yourself. You don't need a paid service to do it.

Certifications and bid preferences in Minnesota

• Minnesota Small Business Certification Program (Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged, Veteran-Owned)

Standard bid forms for Minnesota

These are the forms bidders are most often asked to sign or attach on Minnesota 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

• mn.gov/admin/osp/vendors/solicitations-and-contract-opportunities/supplier-p
• mn.gov/mmb-stat/documents/swift/training/trainingguides/swift-sup-portal-reg
• mn.gov/mmb-stat/documents/swift/training/trainingguides/swift-sup-portal-reg
• mn.gov/admin/osp/vendors/overview-for-vendors/
• mn.gov/mmb/accounting/swift/vendor-resources/

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.