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How Do I ?
 
How do I find out what opportunities are available from the State of Minnesota?

Most of the state's solicitations and requests for proposals for goods and services, construction and professional and technical services are posted on the OSP website through the vendor tab and can be accessed here. In addition, major contracts (estimated value over $50,000) for consulting, professional/technical, or computer-related services are advertised each Monday in the State Register.

 
Registration
 
How can I register my company as a vendor to the State of Minnesota?

Registration as a vendor can be made via the state's Supplier Portal. You will need your Federal Employer Identification Number and Minnesota State Tax Identification Number (if applicable) when you register. Being registered is not a guarantee that you will be sent invitations to bid or requests for proposals - only that your name will appear on the list as a potential vendor for the products you sell or services you provide.

 
Is there training available for Suppliers, Payee and Bidders using the Supplier Portal?

The Office of State Procurement hosts training sessions for Suppliers, Payees and Bidders about once per month. Information can be found on the Vendor Training page, along with other resources.

 
Why is it necessary to register as a supplier?

Requisitions and Purchase Orders cannot be processed until a supplier is active in our system.  Information provided during the registration process is needed to fulfill certain reporting requirements with the IRS and other government agencies.

 
Acronyms
 
Glossary of Terms
Terms Description
RFB Request for Bids
RFP Request for Proposal
RFI Request for Information
P/T Professional/Technical
Event Solicitation/Opportunity
eProcurement Electronic Procurement
eSupplier Electronic Supplier
VP/SP Vendor/Supplier Portal
QRGs Quick Reference Quides
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
EFT Electronic Funds Transfer
MMB Minnesota Management & Budget
OSP Office of State Procurement
PDF Portable Document Format
Vendor ID# Vendor/Supplier Identification Number
Event ID# Solicitation/Event Identification Number
DDM Drop Down Menu
Q&A Questions and Answers
WWW World Wide Web
TIN Tax Identification Number
SSN Social Security Number
SWIFT Statewide Integrated Financial Tools
Bidders Prospective Vendors/Suppliers that can bid on an Event
XML Extensible Markup Language
 
Supplier/Bidder Resources
 
Supplier/Bidder resources
 
Forms
 
Supplier, Payee, Bidder Forms

Supplier / Vendor Forms are available here: https://mn.gov/mmb/accounting/swift/vendor-resources/vendor-forms/

 
MN Products/Services Codes
 
MN Products/Services Codes
 
State Agency Links
 
Link to Directory for State Agencies and Boards
 
Supplier Reference Guides
 
Bidder/Supplier Reference Guides
 
Doing Business with the state
 
How can I obtain a list of OSP acquisition personnel and the goods and services that they buy?

A list of OSP acquisition management specialists and their commodity/service lines is available on the OSP website using the following link

 
How can I obtain a list of agency personnel responsible for processing professional and technical services contracts?

The state agency contract coordinators list is available on the OSP Website-P/T Contract Staff

 
What does the State of Minnesota Buy?

The Administration Department is responsible for the state's purchasing of goods and some services, either through one-time buys or through long-term commodity contracts. All state agencies have the authority to purchase locally up to $5,000, without submitting a request through the Office of State Procurement (OSP). Some agency personnel have delegated authority to make purchases up to $10,000, some have authority up to $25,000 and others have authority up to $50,000. Consultant or technical services are also contracted at the agency level.

 
MN State Taxes
 
Does the State of Minnesota pay sales tax?

The state of Minnesota generally pays sales tax directly to the department of Revenue. Minnesota state agencies pay sales tax directly to the Revenue Department under the terms of a Direct Pay Permit.

 
Voluntary Product Assessment Templates
 
What is a VPAT? What do I need to do to complete one?

Voluntary Product Assessment Templates (VPATs) are templates that enable vendors to self-certify how their products conform to Minnesota's Accessibility Standard. For guidance on the VPAT processes, please visit MN.IT's Office of Accessibility page on IT procurement.

 
Small Business Procurement Program
 
What is an Economically Disadvantaged small business?

To be certified as an Economically Disadvantaged small business, the business must be located in a labor surplus area, as designated by the federal government, or in a low income county in Minnesota. Economically Disadvantaged small businesses must be certified as such by OSP in order to participate in the program. A list of eligible counties is available on the OSP Website.

 
Where is the Office of State Procurement located?

Location of the Office of State Procurement

Office of State Procurement
Department of Administration
State Administration Building, Room 112
50 Sherburne Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155

651.296.2600 Phone
651.297.3996 Fax

Directions to the Office of State Procurement:

The Office of State Procurement (OSP) office is located one block north of the Capitol at the intersection of Cedar Street and Sherburne Avenue. Limited metered parking is available on the street on the north side of Sherburne Avenue. Metered parking is also available in Parking Lot Q, which is on the northeast corner of the intersection of Cedar Street and Sherburne Avenue.

From the East

Take I-94 West to the 12th Street exit. Follow 12th Street to Jackson Street. Turn right on Jackson Street to University Avenue. Turn left on University Avenue to Park Street. Turn right on Park Street to Sherburne Avenue. Turn right on Sherburne Avenue.

From the West

Take I-94 East to the Marion Street exit. Turn left on Marion Street to University Avenue. Turn right on University to Park Street. Turn left on Park Street to Sherburne Avenue. Turn right on Sherburne Avenue.

From the North

Take I-35 South to the University Avenue exit. Turn right on University Avenue to Park Street. Turn right on Park Street to Sherburne Avenue. Turn right on Sherburne Avenue.

From the South

Take I-35 North to the 11th Street exit. Follow 11th Street to Cedar Avenue. Turn left on Cedar Avenue to Sherburne Avenue. Turn left on Sherburne Avenue.

 
What is considered a small business?

OSP has adopted Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 26.65, which sets variable size standards by industry in order to determine what is a small business. Using this approach, we have a size limit that for some industries is $1 million in annual gross sales, for other industries the limit may be as high as $23.98 million in annual gross sales. Size standards by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code are published and be accessed here.

 
What is the Small Business Procurement Program?

In early 1990, the Minnesota legislature passed a bill which authorized the Administration Department, Office of State Procurement, to operate a program for Targeted Group (TG) and Economically Disadvantaged (ED) small businesses. The program has been effect since July 1, 1990. More recently, Veteran-Owned small businesses have been added to the Small Business Procurement Program.

Certified Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged and Veteran-Owned small businesses may be eligible for up to 6% preference in selling their products or services to the state in accordance with the Commissioner's designation of eligible businesses. In addition, certified Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged and Veteran-Owned small businesses may be eligible for subcontracting opportunities on contracts for professional and technical services and construction.

More information can be found on this website at: http://www.mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/sbcp/

 
How do I obtain an application for Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged or Veteran-Owned certification?

Vendors may apply for certification through the Minnesota Small Business Certification Portal, where federal, state and local governments have partnered to provide a consoidated web portal for businesses seeking certification in one or more of our programs

 
What is a Targeted Group small business?

To be certified as a Targeted Group small business, the business must be at least 51% owned by a woman, racial minority, or person with a substantial physical disability. In addition, the business must be operated and controlled on a day-to-day as well as long-term basis by the qualifying owner. In other words, ownership is not enough; operational control is also required.

 
Do Veteran-Owned Businesses get preference?

Certain veteran-owned small businesses may receive preference when responding to solicitations. Eligible veteran-owned small businesses with their principal place of business in Minnesota must be either certified as such by the Office of State Procurement or currently verified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Center for Veterans Enterprise prior to the solicitation opening date and time to receive the preference. More information is available on this website at: https://mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/sbcp/vo/