How to Register as a Vendor in Virginia

What it's for

eVA is Virginia's statewide eProcurement system, run by the Department of General Services. Registering puts you on bidders lists for state agencies, colleges and universities, and "many Local Governments," and you get email or fax notices of opportunities. You must be registered in eVA to respond to solicitations. Open bids are posted on Virginia Business Opportunities (VBO).

Have this ready

• Legal business name, address, and contacts
• FEIN/EIN, or SSN for a sole proprietor
• A Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9. eVA says "Registration is not considered complete unless a Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9 is received."
• NIGP commodity codes for what you sell (eVA has an NIGP Code Look Up tool)
• Optional but useful: SWaM small business certification from the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (sbsd.virginia.gov). It lowers your transaction fee cap.
• If you're an LLC or corporation, registration with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). eVA's pages don't cover this, so check the solicitation's requirements.

Steps

1. Go to eVA's Register Now page (portal_url above) and read the New Supplier Registration Guide it links.
2. Look up your NIGP codes with the NIGP Code Look Up tool before you start.
3. Choose the Supplier Registration link and create your account.
4. Enter your company information, contacts, and NIGP codes.
5. Send the Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9 as the site tells you. Your registration isn't complete until the W-9 is received.
6. If you have limited internet access, eVA offers a paper registration option.

After you register

• You'll get notices for opportunities that match your NIGP codes. Also check VBO, which has filters such as "Open Construction."
• Keep your contacts, codes, and W-9 current. eVA keeps a list of inactive vendor accounts, so an out-of-date account may stop working.
• If you win orders through eVA, you'll be billed the transaction fee. Billing questions go to FeeRelatedPO@dgs.virginia.gov.

Watch out for

• Transaction fees: registering is free, but orders carry a fee of 1% (capped at $500 per order for certified small businesses, $1,500 for everyone else). Build this into your pricing.
• No W-9, no payment: eVA warns that payments "will be delayed" without a properly completed W-9.
• Separate systems: VDOT posts highway construction ads on vdot.virginia.gov, and VITA IT contracts use their own system.
• Paid services: registering is free, so you don't need a paid service to put you on bidders lists.

Sources

• eva.virginia.gov/register-now.html
• eva.virginia.gov/i-sell-to-virginia.html
• eva.virginia.gov/eva-billing.html
• dgs.virginia.gov/globalassets/business-units/dps/documents/billing/Current-eVA-Fees-Ef
• dgs.virginia.gov/globalassets/business-units/dps/documents/billing/eVA-Fee-Schedule-Re

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.