Selling to the State of Maine

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

Maine Vendor Self-Service (VSS), Division of Procurement Services

How to register

1. 1Go to Maine Vendor Self-Service (VSS) at https://mevss.hostams.com/PRDVSS1X1/AltSelfService and click Register. Since October 1, 2025, all State of Maine solicitations are published and managed in VSS, according to the Division of Procurement Services.
2. 2Review the Memorandum of Agreement and click Accept Terms, then read the Registration Tips.
3. 3Search for an existing account by Federal ID number (EIN) or legal business name. The State's guide says each organization registers only ONE account. If a record exists and is not activated, activate it with the company's TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number). If someone else in the organization already registered it, contact that administrator for an account.
4. 4If no record exists, click New Registration. Create a user ID and password (both are case sensitive).
5. 5Verify the email address with the link VSS sends, then sign in with the new user ID and password.
6. 6Select the TIN type, such as an EIN (Employer Identification Number), and the business classification. Complete the My Business Information page; fields marked with a red asterisk are required.
7. 7Enter the administrative, ordering, payment and optional billing addresses and contacts.
8. 8Fill in the optional Additional Business Information page, review the Registration Summary, and click Submit Registration.
9. 9Download the Substitute W-9 Certification Form from the Thank You page, sign it, and fax or mail it to the Office of the State Controller, Attn: Vendor Registration, Burton M. Cross Building, 4th Floor, 14 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0014 (the guide lists (207) 626-8447 with this address). The State's guide says doing this now prevents delays if the company is later chosen for a contract.
10. 10After registration, sign in and add commodity codes to the profile. VSS emails the company when a solicitation matches its codes. The State's guide says the vendor is still responsible for checking VSS regularly for new solicitations.
11. 11The State's guide strongly recommends finishing registration in one sitting, because long gaps between starting and finishing can cause problems.
12. 12For help: VSS Help Desk (207) 624-7889 or VSS.helpdesk@maine.gov for sign-in issues; Office of State Procurement Services (207) 624-7340 for general questions.

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certificationMaine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), Civil Rights OfficeSmall firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, for contracts funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Applicants describe specific incidents of disadvantage in a Personal Narrative and file the Uniform Certification Application, Declaration of Eligibility and Personal Net Worth Statement. MaineDOT is reevaluating all Maine-based DBEs and ACDBEs (Airport Concessions DBEs). Out-of-state (interstate) certification requests have been accepted since May 1, 2026. Contact: Mary Bryant, (207) 624-3056, mary.bryant@maine.gov.

• APEX AcceleratorMaine APEX Accelerator (a statewide program of Eastern Maine Development Corporation)APEX Accelerator website
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC)SBDC website
• Economic developmentMaine 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.

• Maine Division of Procurement Services, Vendors
• Maine Division of Procurement Services, Vendor Self-Service System
• State of Maine Vendor Self-Service User Guide (10/1/2025)
• Doing Business With the State of Maine
• MaineDOT, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• MaineDOT, Aviation
• University of Maine at Augusta, Uncrewed Aircraft Training Program
• Maine APEX Accelerator
• Maine SBDC
• Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

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

All states