How to Register as a Vendor in Kentucky

What it's for

Kentucky Vendor Self Service (VSS) is the Commonwealth's eProcurement site, part of the eMARS financial system run by the Finance and Administration Cabinet. Once registered, you can manage your own account, view business opportunities and awards, and bid online. The site is open around the clock.

Have this ready

• A user ID and password, each 16 characters or fewer
• Organization type: Company or Individual
• A 9-digit FEIN/EIN, or, for individuals, your last name and the last 4 digits of your SSN. The name and TIN must match IRS records.
• Primary address, plus separate ordering and payment addresses if you use them
• A primary contact, plus optional ordering and payment contacts
• NIGP commodity codes (optional, but they help agencies find you)
• Your business types (you pick from a list)
• Registration with the Kentucky Secretary of State if it applies to your business (not stated in the VSS guide)

Steps

1. Go to vss.ky.gov. Before registering, you can use Guest Access to browse open solicitations.
2. Choose the option to register and create a user ID and password.
3. Pick Company or Individual and enter your EIN, or your name and last 4 of your SSN.
4. Confirm your primary address and add ordering and payment addresses if needed.
5. Enter your primary contact and any extra contacts.
6. Use the commodity code search to add NIGP codes. You can skip this, but it helps.
7. Choose your business types, review everything and submit.
8. The Finance Customer Resource Center (CRC) checks your name and TIN with the IRS matching tool. You'll get an email when you're approved or rejected.

After you register

• Log in to VSS to view opportunities, respond to solicitations and see awards.
• Keep your addresses, contacts and commodity codes current in VSS. Your payment address and contact affect how you get paid.
• A renewal schedule was not confirmed in official sources.
• Registration help: Customer Resource Center, 502-564-9641 or Finance.CRCGroup@ky.gov. Goods and services questions: Office of Procurement Services, 502-564-4510.

Watch out for

• TIN mismatch. If your legal name and TIN don't exactly match IRS records, the state will reject your registration.
• Construction and DOT. Non-highway state building construction is handled by the Finance Cabinet's Division of Engineering and Contract Administration ((502) 330-9858). The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet lets road construction on its own schedule. Check each agency's posting location with them.
• Fees. No registration fee appears in official guides. You don't need a paid third-party "registration service."

Sources

• finance.ky.gov/eProcurement/Pages/default.aspx
• vss.ky.gov/
• kcc.ky.gov/Vocational-Rehabilitation/vendors/VendorInfo/Documents/KY-Vendor-Self
• finance.ky.gov/department-for-facilities-and-support-services/office-of-facility-dev

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.