Selling to the State of Connecticut

How a company registers as a supplier with the State of Connecticut, the state's certification programs, and where to get help in Connecticut, with the official sources. Federal registrations such as SAM.gov are in the federal guides.

CTsource (State Contracting Portal), Department of Administrative Services

How to register

1. 1Gather: organization name and type, Taxpayer ID (FEIN or SSN), business type (corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship and so on), a main contact with an email address, and UNSPSC (United Nations Standard Products and Services Code) commodity codes, per the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) CTsource registration guide.
2. 2Open the CTsource Supplier Registration page (portal.ct.gov/das/ctsource/create-a-ctsource-account-for-doing-business-with-the-state).
3. 3Step 1: Read the General Disclaimer and check 'Yes, I agree.'
4. 4Step 2: Enter your organization information, including your FEIN or SSN. The guide says to register a DBA (doing-business-as name) separately as a 'Branch.'
5. 5Step 3: Enter the main contact. This email address receives all bid notifications.
6. 6Step 4: Select the UNSPSC commodity codes that match your products or services, then click Submit.
7. 7Open the confirmation email and sign in to CTsource.
8. 8Keep your CTsource profile up to date. DAS requires suppliers to keep current certificates of insurance, a W-9, any diversity certifications, and annual statutory affidavits and certifications in the profile. Before a contract award, fill in the State of Connecticut 'Additional Required Attributes' and attachments.
9. 9Registration is not required to view the Bid Board or the Contract Board, according to DAS.
10. 10Watch for fraud. DAS warns that scam emails are impersonating DAS employees and asking vendors for payment.

• Small Business Enterprise (SBE)Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Small Business Certification ProgramBusinesses with their principal place of business in Connecticut that are independent and, for for-profits, registered in SAM.gov for All Awards as a small business (nonprofits: revenue under $20 million). Apply in 3 steps: register in SAM.gov (DAS says SAM registration is free and valid for 1 year), submit the application on CT Gateway, and complete the review (which may include a site visit). DAS says state certification is free and valid for 2 years.
• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), including women-owned and disability-owned businessesConnecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Small Business Certification ProgramBusinesses that meet all SBE requirements and are at least 51% owned by one or more people with minority status as defined in C.G.S. 32-9n. That definition includes members of racial or ethnic minorities, women, and persons with a disability. The owner must run daily operations, receive the business's benefits, and have the managerial and technical skill for the business. Required documents include a federal tax return, proof of beneficial interest, and proof of minority affiliation.
• Veteran-Owned Micro-Business CertificationConnecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (CTDVA)Businesses at least 51% owned by one or more veterans (as defined in CGS 27-103) with gross revenue of no more than $3 million in the most recently completed fiscal year. CTDVA says certified businesses get a 15% price preference when DAS determines the lowest responsible qualified bidder. Apply with CTDVA Form CTVOMB-1.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Connecticut Unified Certification Program (CTUCP)Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)Firms seeking DBE status on federally funded transportation contracts. CTDOT says it is currently not accepting new DBE applications. Under the U.S. DOT Interim Final Rule of October 3, 2025, all certified DBEs must be reevaluated using a personal narrative and personal net worth statement, submitted through CTDOT's B2Gnow system. Firms based outside Connecticut must first be re-evaluated in their home state. CTDOT says firms that had not submitted re-evaluation documents by April 1, 2026 are ineligible for the DBE Program until they submit them and are approved.

• APEX AcceleratorCT APEX Accelerator (formerly CTPTAC)APEX Accelerator website
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC), University of ConnecticutSBDC website
• Economic developmentConnecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)Economic development agency website

• Where to startThe order: the basics, codes and size, SAM.gov, certifications, drone rules, documents, where to sell, and free and low-cost help.
• SAM.gov registrationThe federal government's free registration for companies that want federal contracts: the Unique Entity ID, the CAGE code and the yearly renewal.
• Codes and profilesNAICS and PSC codes, SBA size standards, CAGE and NCAGE codes, and the SBA Small Business Search profile buyers search.
• SBA certificationsThe SBA's 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned (WOSB and EDWOSB) and veteran-owned (VetCert) programs: who each is for and how to apply.
• Drone complianceThe rules for selling drones to government and flying them: NDAA and the American Security Drone Act, Blue UAS, the FCC, FAA Part 107, ITAR, EAR and CMMC.
• Documents to prepareWhat government buyers, SBA lenders, SBIR and STTR programs and investors ask to see.
• Selling to federal buyersWhere federal contracts, subcontracts and research funding are posted: SAM.gov, primes, the GSA schedule, SBIR and STTR, DIU, AFWERX, the Army, the Navy, SOFWERX and DHS.
• Utilities and public buyersUtilities, HUD-funded agencies, state transportation departments, cities and counties, and cooperative contracts such as Sourcewell and NASPO ValuePoint.
• Free and low-cost helpAPEX Accelerators, SBDCs, SBA district offices, SCORE, veterans' and women's business centers, MEP centers and agency small business offices.

• DAS: State Contracting Portal (CTsource)
• DAS: How to Register With CTsource
• DAS: Create a CTsource Account for Doing Business with the State
• DAS: CTsource Supplier Registration and Portal User Guide (PDF)
• DAS: Small Business Certification Program
• DAS: Eligibility, Small Business Certification Program
• DAS: Apply in 3 Steps
• DAS: Required Documents
• CTDVA: Veteran Owned Micro-Business Certification
• CTDOT: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• CT APEX Accelerator
• Connecticut SBDC (UConn)
• Connecticut DECD

Last checked September 25, 2026. Rules, fees and programs change; the official sources are where to confirm them before applying or spending money.

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