How do I register as a vendor in Minnesota?

Register on State of Minnesota Supplier Portal (SWIFT) (https://guest.supplier.systems.state.mn.us). Have your Federal Employer ID Number, Minnesota State Tax ID Number, and a W-9 form ready.

How to Bid on Government Contracts in Minnesota (2026 Guide)

Minnesota buys through a central state purchasing office, and its cities, counties and school districts buy on their own as well. To sell to the state you register once as a vendor, then watch for solicitations in your commodity codes and respond by the deadline. This page covers the state registration steps, where bids are posted and the programs that help small businesses, with links to the official pages.

Central purchasing officeOffice of State Procurement (OSP), Minnesota Department of Administration

Vendor registrationState of Minnesota Supplier Portal (SWIFT)

Where bids are postedThe State Supplier Portal (https://guest.supplier.systems.state.mn.us), the OSP Solicitation Announcements page on mn.gov/admin/osp, and the State Register, a weekly publication posted on Mondays.

Open bids right now192 open Minnesota bids (32 closing this week, 63 new in the last 7 days)

How to register as a Minnesota vendor

Have your Federal Employer ID Number, Minnesota State Tax ID Number, and a W-9 form ready.
In the Supplier Portal, choose Bidder registration (to respond to solicitation events quickly) or Supplier registration (if already working with or being paid by a state agency).
Select the commodity categories you sell so the portal emails you matching opportunities; categories can be changed later.
Routinely monitor the OSP Solicitation Announcements page and the Supplier Portal, and respond to events there.
Before contract execution, prepare any required Workforce, Equal Pay, and E-Verify certifications, depending on company size and contract value.

Registration gets you on the state's list, but it rarely sends you every relevant bid. Many agencies, and most local governments, post on their own portals. A free BidsNexus alert watches the state portal and Minnesota's local agencies for you and emails the matches each morning.

Small business and certification programs

Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged and Veteran-Owned (TG/ED/VO) small business preference: Certified small targeted group businesses, small businesses in economically disadvantaged areas, and certified veteran-owned small businesses can receive up to a 12 percent preference on state procurement; certification is through the Minnesota Small Business Certification Portal run by the Office of Equity in Procurement.

Federal set-asides work differently from state programs; see our guide to small business set-asides.

Cities, counties and school districts

Through the Cooperative Purchasing Venture (CPV), governmental units such as political subdivisions, plus certain nonprofits, charities and health clinics, can buy from state contracts; membership is free. The official pages checked do not name a shared local bidding portal.

Local bids are where most small businesses win their first contracts: smaller dollar values, shorter responses and less competition from national firms. BidsNexus collects them into one list, so you can browse every open Minnesota bid in one place.

Tips specific to Minnesota

Routinely check the Solicitation Announcement Page; do not rely only on email notices.
The Department of Human Rights may charge a fee for each Workforce or Equal Pay Certificate of Compliance it issues.
Vendor Assistance Help Desk: 651-201-8100.