Selling to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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

PA Supplier Portal (Department of General Services); open bids are posted on PA eMarketplace

How to register

1. 1Use a desktop or laptop with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. The Department of General Services (DGS) says not to use a phone or tablet.
2. 2Have your IRS-issued nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN) ready. DGS says a Social Security number will not work for business registration.
3. 3Open the PA Supplier Portal and select Supplier Registration from the menu.
4. 4Enter your nine-digit EIN without hyphens and select Next.
5. 5Enter your legal name exactly as on your IRS Letter 147C, your business type, a mailing address with county, a phone number (format 717-123-4567) and all product categories that apply. Review the data privacy statement and pick the USPS (U.S. Postal Service)-validated address when asked.
6. 6Review the IRS Form W-9 the system builds from your answers, fix any errors, check the digital signature box and select Submit W9. The system checks your name and EIN with the IRS in about 15 seconds. If the name and EIN do not match, DGS says to contact the IRS.
7. 7Create a user name and password and enter your name and your own email. DGS says not to use a generic team email. Select Create User ID. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page and your vendor number.
8. 8Wait for the official confirmation email from a pa.gov address, then select Log on at the PA Supplier Portal. DGS says registration takes less than 15 minutes.
9. 9Find open bids on PA eMarketplace (www.emarketplace.state.pa.us). DGS's FAQ says e-Alerts is an email notice service for procurement opportunities, open to registered suppliers and the public. DGS says JAGGAER is the Commonwealth's supplier management system for non-construction materials and services and is used to respond to procurement opportunities such as requests for proposals. PennDOT's Engineering and Construction Management System (ECMS) is used for transportation projects, from bidding through construction.
10. 10Help: ra-pscsmportal@pa.gov or 877-435-7363 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

• Small Business (SB) and Micro Business (MCB) self-certificationDepartment of General Services, Business Inclusion and Supplier Development (BISD), through the PRISM compliance portalSmall Business: 100 or fewer employees and $47 million or less in 3-year average gross revenue. Micro Business: 25 or fewer employees and $1 million or less. Register in the PA Supplier Portal first to get your six-digit SAP vendor number, then apply in the PRISM compliance portal (bdisbo.prismcompliance.com) with signed copies of your company's most recent three years of federal income tax returns. DGS says approval is instant once tax and size data are submitted, certifications are renewed every two years, and DGS charges no fee for small, small diverse or veteran business certification.
• Midsize Business (MDB) certificationDGS Business Inclusion and Supplier Development (PRISM portal)Businesses with 750 or fewer employees and/or $141 million or less in 3-year average gross revenue. DGS says approval is instant.
• Small Diverse Business (SDB) verificationDGS Business Inclusion and Supplier Development (PRISM portal)Businesses at least 51% owned by minorities, women, LGBTQ individuals or individuals with disabilities that also meet the Small Business standards. DGS verifies rather than certifies: the business first needs a certificate from a DGS-recognized third party, such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the SBA 8(a) Program, a Unified Certification Program, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) or Disability:IN. DGS says to allow 90 or more days for third-party certification, that third parties may charge fees, and that DGS verification takes about 10 days.
• Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) verificationDGS Business Inclusion and Supplier Development (PRISM portal)Businesses at least 51% veteran-owned that meet the Small Business standards and hold a recognized third-party certificate. DGS lists the U.S. Small Business Administration Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert), which its FAQ marks as free, for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned firms, and Disability:IN for service-disabled veteran-owned firms. DGS verification takes about 10 days.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) certificationPennsylvania Unified Certification Program (PAUCP): SEPTA, PennDOT, Allegheny County, Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh Regional TransitBusinesses seeking work on federally assisted transportation contracts. PAUCP says first-time applicants may apply with any of the five certifying partners; previous applicants return to the partner they first applied with.

• APEX AcceleratorPennsylvania has several regional APEX Accelerators (for example the Southern Alleghenies APEX Accelerator, funded in part by DoD and PA DCED). Find the one for your county with the national APEX Accelerators service area locator.APEX Accelerator locator
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PA SBDC), state office at Kutztown UniversitySBDC website
• Economic developmentPennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)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.

• DGS: Register as a Commonwealth Supplier
• DGS: Business Diversity and Supplier Development FAQ
• DGS: Apply for Business Certification
• DGS: Business Inclusion and Supplier Development (BISD)
• PA Supplier Portal
• PA eMarketplace
• Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program
• PA Business One-Stop Shop: Becoming a Government Supplier
• PennDOT: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Drones
• PennDOT: Advanced Air Mobility
• PennDOT STIC: Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Southern Alleghenies APEX Accelerator
• PA SBDC
• PA SBDC: About
• PA Department of Community and 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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