Selling to the State of New Jersey

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

NJSTART, the State of New Jersey eProcurement system (Department of the Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property)

How to register

1. 1Get a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate (BRC) from the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). The Division of Purchase and Property says every bidder, and any named subcontractor, must hold a valid BRC before contract award or it cannot receive the award. DORES says out-of-state businesses contracting with the State need one too.
2. 2If you do not have a BRC, file Form NJ-REG online through the NJ Portal. Corporations, LLCs and partnerships first need legal authority to do business from DORES. For public contracts, DORES also lists an affirmative action report (Form AA-302). Companies already registered in New Jersey can get their BRC online.
3. 3Go to www.njstart.gov and click Register. Enter your tax ID (EIN, or Social Security number), your company name exactly as the trade name on your BRC (or your taxpayer name if the BRC shows none), a valid email address, and your country.
4. 4Verify your email, then finish registration on a weekday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Some steps need the New Jersey Comprehensive Financial System (NJCFS), which is only available then.
5. 5Complete the profile tabs: Company Information; Administrator (name at least one Seller Administrator); Addresses, including an EFT-enabled remit address (EFT means electronic funds transfer); and the required OMB categories and certifications: primary business function, business formation, EFT certification and the Tax ID certification (a substitute W-9).
6. 6Pick your commodity and service codes. NJSTART emails you new bid opportunities that match them.
7. 7Review the Summary tab and complete registration. For help, email njstart@treas.nj.gov or call 609-341-3500.
8. 8To take part in the State's Small Business Set-Aside program, get certified with DORES (see the certifications below).

• Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certificationNJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), Business Certification ProgramSmall businesses that meet the size rules of New Jersey's Set-Aside Act (P.L.1983, c.482), with gross revenues calculated as DORES describes. DORES says the State currently sets aside 25 percent of certain contracts for certified SBEs. One online application covers all DORES certifications, and DORES says the usual $100 fee is waived indefinitely.
• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) certificationNJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES)Businesses at least 51% owned by, and with management and daily operations controlled by, one or more minorities (as defined in N.J.S.A. 52:27H-21.18) or women. DORES offers a fast track for firms already certified by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council), an MSDC (Minority Supplier Development Council), or the states of New York, Maryland, Texas or Massachusetts.
• Veteran-Owned Business (VOB) and Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (DVOB) certificationNJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES)Businesses with their principal place of business in New Jersey, independently owned and operated, and at least 51% owned by veterans (VOB) or disabled veterans (DVOB), with veterans controlling management and daily operations. DORES says the State currently sets aside 3 percent of certain contracts for DVOBs.
• Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SEDB) certificationNJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES)Businesses at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by people who are both socially and economically disadvantaged, independently owned, and whose owners' net worth does not exceed $1,320,000, according to DORES.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) certification, New Jersey Unified Certification Program (NJUCP)NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Disadvantaged and Small Business Programs UnitSmall businesses (by SBA size standards) at least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals whose personal net worth does not exceed $2.047 million, for U.S. DOT-assisted contracts. NJDOT says that under the October 3, 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule it is reevaluating all DBE/ACDBE firms, that existing certifications are not valid for contracting until reevaluated, and that firms should not submit new certification applications until further notice. Contact: DOT.DBE_ESBEPrograms@dot.nj.gov or 609-963-2051.

• Aerospace Innovation Center (AIC), Atlantic CountyNew Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), with the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA, managing construction) and the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park (NARTP, managing operations)A planned 40,000-square-foot, two-story aerospace innovation center in Egg Harbor Township, inside the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park next to the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center. NJEDA says it will hold office and studio space for research, development, innovation and commercialization of emerging aerospace and aviation technologies, plus co-working space and high-speed connectivity to FAA data systems and laboratories. NARTP's chairman, quoted in the release, named drones and electric-powered flying taxis among the technologies. NJEDA's January 10, 2025 release says its Board approved $8.6 million, and it projected construction to finish in October 2025 and full operations in January 2026.

• APEX AcceleratorNJIT APEX Accelerator, New Jersey Institute of TechnologyAPEX Accelerator website
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)America's SBDC New Jersey (NJSBDC), hosted by Rutgers Business SchoolSBDC website
• Economic developmentNew Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)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.

• NJ Division of Purchase and Property – Vendors (NJSTART)
• NJ Division of Purchase and Property – Doing Business
• NJSTART Vendor Registration User Guide (rev. 11/07/22, PDF)
• NJ DORES – Business Registration Certificate
• NJ DORES – Business Certification Program
• NJDOT – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Overview (Interim Final Rule notice)
• NJEDA – Board approves $8.6M to launch Aerospace Innovation Center in Atlantic County
• NJEDA – Office of Strategic Defense Investment
• National Aerospace Research & Technology Park (NARTP)
• NJIT APEX Accelerator
• UCEDC APEX Accelerator
• America's SBDC New Jersey (NJSBDC)
• NJEDA – home page
• FAA – UAS Test Site Locations
• NJSTART – home page (registration fields)

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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