How to Register as a Vendor in Nebraska

What it's for

Nebraska does not have an online vendor account system. Instead, the DAS State Purchasing Bureau (SPB) keeps a vendor list, built from a Vendor Application and a W-9. It uses that list to pay vendors and to build bidder lists. The state is clear: "You may bid on solicitations without being registered with the state, however, if awarded you will need to be registered for a contract/purchase order to be completed."

Have this ready

• Vendor Application (an Excel file on the Vendor Information page)
• Nebraska W-9 and ACH Form (PDF). This one form covers both your tax ID and direct-deposit banking.
• Attestation Form (PDF), also listed on the Vendor Information page
• NIGP commodity codes for what you sell. SPB uses NIGP codes to build bidder lists.
• Legal business name, FEIN (or SSN), address and contact info
• For bidding: proof you are authorized to do business in Nebraska. The vendor manual asks for a Certificate or Letter of Good Standing dated within 90 days.

Steps

1. Open DAS Materiel's Vendor Information page.
2. Download and fill out the Vendor Application. Include your NIGP codes.
3. Fill out and sign the Nebraska W-9 and ACH Form, and the Attestation Form.
4. Send the forms to SPB as the Vendor Information page or the forms direct. The official pages we reviewed don't say where to send them, so check the form itself. You can also ask through the state's Vendor Concierge Program request form.
5. Meanwhile, check the Bid Opportunities page regularly. You can respond to posted bids even before your registration is done.

After you register

• There's no automatic email alert system. SPB says that because of volume, "a random selection of vendors is selected to receive these notices," and it "will not be responsible to ensure a vendor receives" a solicitation. Check the bid page yourself.
• ITBs over $24,999.99 and RFPs of $50,000 or more are advertised on the SPB website.
• "Vendors are solely responsible for the accuracy of their information and for keeping the information current." Send updated forms when your address, banking or contacts change.

Watch out for

• Agency-run RFPs are posted on a separate DAS "Agency RFP" page. State Building Division construction bids are on das.nebraska.gov/building (const-bids), with plans through builders' plan rooms. NDOT highway lettings are separate.
• Contractors doing work in Nebraska must use E-Verify, or an equivalent federal program, for employees who work in the state.
• Because there is no state portal account to set up, a company offering to "register you with Nebraska" for a fee isn't doing anything you can't do with the free forms.

Sources

• das.nebraska.gov/materiel/vendor-information.html
• das.nebraska.gov/materiel/bid-opportunities.html
• das.nebraska.gov/materiel/purchase_bureau/docs/manuals/Vendor%20Manual-%20How%20to%20d
• das.nebraska.gov/building/const-bids.html

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.