Selling to the State of Minnesota

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

Minnesota Supplier Portal (SWIFT, Statewide Integrated Financial Tools); bids are also posted on the Office of State Procurement's Solicitation Announcements page

How to register

1. 1Have these ready, according to the Office of State Procurement (OSP): your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), your Minnesota State Tax Identification Number, and an IRS Form W-9.
2. 2Pick the right type. Register as a Bidder to bid quickly and get email notices for the categories you choose; bidder registration needs little information and no state review. Register as a Supplier if the state will pay you or has asked you to register for a contract or purchase order.
3. 3Open the Supplier Portal at https://mn.gov/supplier (it redirects to the state's SWIFT Supplier Portal) and select the Register for an Account tile, then Register now under Register as Supplier.
4. 4Supplier step 1 of 7: select the Tax Identification Number (TIN) type and the legal entity type.
5. 5Step 2: enter the TIN (no dashes, slashes or spaces), Minnesota Tax ID, legal name and website. MMB's guide says a TIN is not required for foreign suppliers.
6. 6Step 3: enter the primary address and email. Foreign suppliers click Change Country first. Out-of-state U.S. companies select 'NON MINNESOTA' as the county. Add remittance or invoice addresses only if they differ.
7. 7Step 4: add contacts (name, email, phone) and mark the primary contact.
8. 8Step 5: enter bank information for electronic funds transfer (EFT) and an email for payment notices.
9. 9Step 6 (optional): add category codes for the goods and services you sell, so SWIFT emails you matching bid opportunities.
10. 10Step 7: review, read and accept the Terms of Agreement, and click Submit. Wait up to three days for approval, according to Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB). Bidders selected for an award get an email asking them to finish Supplier registration.
11. 11Watch for bids in the Supplier Portal, on OSP's Solicitation Announcements page (https://mn.gov/admin/osp/vendors/solicitations-and-contract-opportunities/), and in the weekly State Register.
12. 12Check compliance documents, according to OSP: a Workforce Certificate from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) applies to contractors with 40 or more full-time employees on a contract for goods and services likely to exceed $100,000, and an Equal Pay Certificate applies to businesses with 40 or more employees on a state contract over $500,000.
13. 13For help: OSP Vendor Assistance Help Desk 651-201-8100 (option 1, then option 1); MMB vendor team 651-201-8106 or vendor.mmbefax@state.mn.us; bid questions to osphelp.line@state.mn.us.

• Small Business Procurement Program: Targeted Group (TG) small businessMinnesota Department of Administration, Office of State Procurement (OSP)Minnesota-based small businesses majority-owned and operated by women, persons with a substantial physical disability, or specific minorities, within purchasing categories set by the commissioner of Administration. Size limits follow U.S. Department of Transportation size standards by industry. OSP says to apply on the Minnesota Small Business Certification Portal (https://sbcp.mn.gov). OSP's application page lists supporting documents, including five years of business financial statements (or tax returns), owner resumes, proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, a notarized Personal Net Worth statement, a Declaration of Eligibility for each qualifying owner, and formation documents for the business type.
• Small Business Procurement Program: Economically Disadvantaged (ED) small businessMinnesota Department of Administration, Office of State Procurement (OSP)Minnesota-based small businesses located in (or whose owner lives in) an Economically Disadvantaged Area in Minnesota, such as federally designated labor surplus areas and low-income counties.
• Small Business Procurement Program: Veteran-Owned (VO) small businessMinnesota Department of Administration, Office of State Procurement (OSP); veteran status verified by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)Minnesota-based small businesses at least 51% owned by a veteran or service-disabled veteran, as determined by MDVA, and operated and controlled day to day and long term by that owner. OSP says the owner first submits MDVA's online form to get a verification letter, then applies on the Minnesota Small Business Certification Portal (https://sbcp.mn.gov).
• MnDOT Targeted Group Business (TGB) and Veteran-owned Small Business programsMinnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Office of Civil RightsMinnesota-based small businesses owned and operated by eligible minorities, women or disabled individuals (TGB), or by veterans (Vet), bidding on state-funded MnDOT work. MnDOT says certified firms may get a preference of up to 12% of the bid amount, capped at $240,000, when bidding as a prime contractor, if certified before bid opening. Apply through the Minnesota Small Business Certification Portal: https://mnucp.dbesystem.com
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certificationMinnesota Unified Certification Program (MNUCP): MnDOT, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Metropolitan Council and City of MinneapolisSocially and economically disadvantaged small businesses that want to work on contracts funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Since August 17, 2026, new DBE applications go through https://mnucp.dbesystem.com, starting with the partner agency the firm expects to work with most.

• MnDOT Aeronautics: commercial drone registration and Commercial Operations LicenseMinnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Office of AeronauticsMnDOT is the state regulator for all aircraft, including drones. Drones used by a business generally must be registered with MnDOT (after FAA registration and with insurance meeting Minnesota Statute 360.59 subd. 10); MnDOT says registration costs $25 per year in most cases. Businesses that advertise or provide drone services to others also need a Commercial Operations License ($30 per year) and must file a certificate of insurance. Contact: droneinfo.dot@state.mn.us.

• APEX AcceleratorMinnesota APEX Accelerator (Minnesota Department of Administration)APEX Accelerator website
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)SBDC website
• Economic developmentMinnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)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.

• OSP: Overview for Vendors (Wayback capture 2026-05-16)
• MMB SWIFT Quick Reference Guide: Register as Supplier (updated Sept 14, 2025)
• Department of Administration: Small Business Procurement Program
• Department of Administration: Small Business Procurement Program Application (Wayback capture 2026-04-10)
• MnDOT: Become a Certified Small Business
• MnDOT: DBE program updates
• MnDOT: Commercial Drone Operations
• MnDOT: Drones
• Minnesota APEX Accelerator: About
• DEED: Small Business Development Centers (Wayback capture 2026-07-14)
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (Wayback capture 2026-09-09)
• America's SBDC: State Directors list (cross-check only)
• Federal Register: DBE interim final rule (Oct 3, 2025)
• Federal Register: DBE final rule (effective Sept 25, 2026)

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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