Selling to the State of North Carolina

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

North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP), with NC eProcurement, run by the NC Department of Administration (DOA)

How to register

1. 1Go to evp.nc.gov, select Sign In or Register, then choose Sign up now and enter a valid, unique email address.
2. 2Complete multifactor authentication (MFA), a second sign-in check sent to your email.
3. 3Enter your vendor name, vendor type and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), typed without dashes.
4. 4Choose your registration type. Pick NC eProcurement to receive purchase orders and public bid invitations. Accept the NC eProcurement Terms of Use and the terms for any other service you select.
5. 5Pick your commodity and construction codes so you get notices for the bids that match your products.
6. 6Registration is free. NC eProcurement says there is no fee to register in eVP, but a 1.75% transaction fee applies to applicable purchase orders for goods or materials issued through NC eProcurement. There is no transaction fee on the sale of services.
7. 7For help, contact the eVP Help Desk at 888-211-7440, option 2, or vendor@nc.gov.

• North Carolina Small Business Enterprise (NCSBE) certificationNC Department of Administration (DOA); DOA says the program is moving to its Division of Purchase & ContractDOA calls NCSBE a race- and gender-neutral program. It is for for-profit businesses headquartered in North Carolina with 100 or fewer employees and annual net income of no more than $1.5 million after cost of goods sold. Start the request in the electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) and upload the required documents. DOA says reviews can take up to 90 days from a fully completed packet, that pending NCSBE applications continue in review, and that more information will be provided in the coming months as the program moves to Purchase & Contract.
• Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certification (ended for state contracts)NC Department of Administration (DOA)DOA says the state budget enacted in July 2026 eliminated the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses, and that HUB programs and services ended as of July 7. State government contracts will no longer recognize HUB certifications, HUB certifications will not be renewed, and pending HUB applications will not be considered. HUB-certified businesses that meet NCSBE rules have a one-time fast-track window from October 15 to November 30 to become NCSBE certified with a digital attestation. DOA says the Statewide Uniform Business Certification stays valid with participating local and city governments until its expiration date, unless otherwise notified.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certificationNorth Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)Businesses on U.S. Department of Transportation-assisted work. NCDOT says that under the Interim Final Rule effective October 3, 2025, owners must show individualized social and economic disadvantage, regardless of race and gender, and that it expects to start reevaluations later in 2026. To apply: register for an NCID (the state sign-in account), complete the EBS access request form, then use the NC Online Certification System.
• Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification (NCDOT)North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)NCDOT says businesses with incomes of less than $1.5 million, minus materials, can certify as an SBE for NCDOT work. Apply through the NC Online Certification System.
• Small Professional Services Firm (SPSF) certificationNorth Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)NCDOT says a small business as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can certify as an SPSF for NCDOT professional services work.

• NCDOT Division of Aviation Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) ProgramNorth Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Division of AviationNCDOT says it works with business, government, education and research partners to integrate drones, and that it is one of a handful of teams in the FAA's BEYOND program. It publishes guidance for commercial, government and recreational operators. NCDOT says North Carolina no longer requires commercial and government drone operators to get an N.C. permit.

• APEX AcceleratorNot confirmed. The DoD APEX Accelerators locator listed no North Carolina office on 2026-09-25. Use the locator to find an APEX Accelerator.APEX Accelerator locator
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), a business advisory service of the UNC SystemSBDC website
• Economic developmentNorth Carolina Department of CommerceEconomic 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.

• NC electronic Vendor Portal (eVP)
• NC eProcurement: Registering in eVP
• NC eProcurement: Vendor Tips (fees, help desk)
• NC DOA Small Business Enterprise Program
• NC DOA HUB division page
• NC DOA NCSBE certification
• NCDOT Small Business certification programs
• NCDOT Division of Aviation UAS program
• NC SBTDC home page
• NC SBTDC Government Contracting
• DoD APEX Accelerators site
• North Carolina Department of Commerce

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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