Do Business With State Governments
State government Procurement Portals provide individuals and businesses the ability to:
- register as a vendor, supplier,
- subscribe to receive bid/solicitation opportunities,
- view contract information, and
- securely submit confidential bid information.
Most state procurement systems allow suppliers to more easily provide information about products and services they offer. They also enable states to create catalogs of products and services to make it easier for state agencies and vendors to find what they need.
State procurement portals amalgamate purchasing for state agencies and entities. Many also include local government bid notifications and contracts.
Register as a Vendor and Receive Bid Notifications
States need and buy all types of goods and services from people and businesses. States typically have one primary agency responsible for procurement.
Most state agencies; however, have some level of direct purchasing authority, depending on the product or service, the cost, and the agency’s or department’s delegated spending authority.
State agencies and entities have spending thresholds. Any procurement with a cost amount above the threshold requires a Bid and Notification process.
Bid and Notification process is used in conjunction with a Request for Information (RFI) and/or Request for Proposal (RFP). RFIs and RFPs are created by states to enable businesses to submit their business information and product/services bids and proposals to the state.
Following the RFP reviews, scoring and selection process, the state selects the preferred vendor/s and signs a written contract to purchase the products or services.
Purchasing Codes and Example RFP/RFI Bid Documents
Vendors register with the state procurement systems, and select preferred purchasing codes so the state knows what products or services vendors want to track.
States announce upcoming procurements and bids, and post existing contracts, on the procurement portal and may also send emails.
Example RFP/RFQ Bid Documents
http://mrsc.org/Home/Research-Tools/Sample-Documents/RFP-RFQ-Documents.aspx
Steps to Do Business with State Governments
Step 1 - Visit the Do Business with State Government website at govonestop.com.
Select the state’s Do Business with Government website link.
Step 2 - Register as a Vender within the state’s procurement web portal or system.
Select the Register as a vendor link to locate the state’s procurement office or the state’s vendor registration system.
Apply for admission to state’s vendor list and to receive bid notifications. Once you are registered, you will typically be notified of bid opportunities as they become available. You will also have the ability to respond to bids electronically.
Step 3 - Contact the appropriate agency staff or visit the state’s procurement website listed for: Goods and Services or Construction Projects
Purchasing Terms
Procurement
In the U.S., the common term for doing business with government is
In Europe, the common term is Tender.
Purchasing Codes
State government Procurement portals use purchasing codes to classify and list, procurement notices, bids, and contracts.
Businesses are required to select product and service codes that provide enough level of detail so the state knows what you offer.
They also help state government categorize and sort bids, contracts, and related information and services.
There are three primary code systems used for state procurement portals and systems:
NIGP - The NIGP Commodity/Services Code is an acronym for the National Institute of Governmental Purchasings' Commodity/Services Code. The NIGP Code is a coding taxonomy used primarily to classify products and services procured by state and local governments in North America.
NAICS - The North American Industry Classification System or NAICS (pronounced "nakes"[1]) is a classification of business establishments by type of economic activity (process of production). It is used by government and business in Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.
UNSPSC - The United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) is a taxonomy of products and services for use in eCommerce.
Tender - In Europe, the common term for Procurement is Tender.