Selling to the State of Louisiana

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

LaPAC (Louisiana Procurement and Contract Network), Office of State Procurement; vendors enroll in LaGov

How to register

1. 1Look up the UNSPSC (United Nations Standard Products and Services Code) commodity codes for the company's products with the LaPAC UNSPSC product search on the Vendor Registration Menu: https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/Vendor/VndPubMain.cfm?tab=2
2. 2Open the LaGov Vendor Enrollment Portal (https://lagoverpvendor.doa.louisiana.gov/irj/portal/anonymous?guest_user=self_reg), complete the New Supplier Registration form and click submit. The Office of State Procurement Vendor Guide (last updated April 2022) says "There is currently no fee for enrollment."
3. 3Close all web browser sessions after submitting, as the Office of State Procurement instructs.
4. 4Watch for an email with the permanent User ID (LaGov Vendor Number) and a link to create a password.
5. 5Sign in at https://lagoverpvendor.doa.louisiana.gov/irj/portal to manage the account and update company information at any time. The commodity classes chosen decide which bid emails the company receives from LaPAC, according to the Vendor Guide.
6. 6Search open bids on LaPAC by category, department, bid number or open date.
7. 7Have an IRS Form W-9 ready. The Vendor Guide says registered vendors must submit a W-9 before receiving an award, and the state gives notice when it is needed.
8. 8For help, contact the Office of State Procurement Vendor Enrollment Section at (225) 342-8010 or vendr_inq@la.gov.

• Hudson Initiative (Small Entrepreneurship certification)Louisiana Economic Development (LED)Louisiana small businesses with a principal place of business in Louisiana, fewer than 50 full-time employees, and average annual gross receipts of no more than $5 million (non-construction) or $10 million (construction). The business must be independently owned, not dominant in its field, and owned by people domiciled in Louisiana who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. LED says certified firms can have 10% of total evaluation points added on an RFP (Request for Proposals). Apply at https://smallbiz.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com/Account/Login. Annual updates are required.
• Veteran Initiative (veteran-owned and service-connected disabled veteran-owned small entrepreneurship certification)Louisiana Economic Development (LED)Louisiana small businesses at least 51% owned by a veteran or a service-connected disabled veteran, with fewer than 50 full-time employees and average annual gross receipts of no more than $6 million (non-construction) or $10 million (construction). Owners must be domiciled in Louisiana and be U.S. citizens or legal residents. LED says certified firms can have 12% of total evaluation points added on an RFP. Apply at https://smallbiz.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com/Account/Login. Annual updates are required.
• Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) Program certificationLouisiana Economic Development (LED)Louisiana small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by Small and Emerging Business Persons: U.S. citizens or legal residents who have been Louisiana residents for at least one year immediately before applying. LED lists an owner net worth limit of under $400,000 (not counting personal residence, business assets and retirement accounts) and a business net worth limit of $1.5 million. Managing owners who claim this status must be full-time employees of the firm (20 or more hours per week). The program gives business and management training through intermediaries. LED says certification is offered at no charge. Recertify every five years.
• Louisiana Veterans First Business InitiativeLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (certification), with Louisiana Economic DevelopmentBusinesses certified by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 51% owned by a veteran, active-duty or reserve service member, or Gold Star spouse. The business must also be registered and in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State. LED says the program is free. It gives an insignia, a certificate, a window decal and a listing in a searchable directory. LED's page points to the separate Veteran Initiative certification for state purchasing and contracting opportunities. Register at https://laveteransfirst.org/ or at a Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs parish service office.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certificationLouisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Compliance ProgramsSmall businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged people, for federally assisted highway, transit and aviation contracts. DOTD's DBE page lists a DBE IFR (Interim Final Rule) Personal Narrative form and a DBE/ACDBE Personal Net Worth Statement among its application documents.

• LIFTOff Louisiana (Advanced Air Mobility)Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Office of Multimodal Commerce, Aviation DivisionDOTD says its proposal was one of eight projects chosen nationwide (announced in early 2026) for the federal eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, set up under Executive Order 14307, "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" (June 6, 2025). It centers on Houma-Terrebonne Airport and, according to DOTD, involves U.S.-based aircraft makers, operators, surveillance and data providers, academic partners and community groups. It will test cargo and personnel transport, including flights over the Gulf of America to support energy industry sites in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. Phone: 225-379-3050.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Office of Multimodal Commerce, Aviation DivisionThe state aviation office's UAS page. DOTD says its goal is to make sure all drones and unmanned aircraft systems are operated safely in Louisiana airspace. It links to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) UAS rules and Know Before You Fly.

• APEX AcceleratorLouisiana APEX Accelerator (University of Louisiana at Lafayette; serves 54 of 64 parishes)APEX Accelerator website
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC)SBDC website
• Economic developmentLouisiana Economic Development (LED)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.

• LaPAC Vendor Registration Menu
• Office of State Procurement, Vendor Resources
• Office of State Procurement, Registration Information
• Office of State Procurement, Vendor Guide (last updated April 2022)
• LED, Hudson Initiative
• LED, Veteran Initiative
• LED, Small and Emerging Business Development Program
• LED, Louisiana Veterans First Business Initiative
• LED, Small Business Programs
• DOTD, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• DOTD, Advanced Air Mobility
• DOTD, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Louisiana APEX Accelerator
• Northwest Louisiana APEX Accelerator
• Louisiana SBDC
• Louisiana Economic Development

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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