How to become a vendor in North Dakota
Updated November 11, 2026. Registration facts checked on official North Dakota pages on November 10, 2026; sources are listed at the end. EasBid is an independent bid search service and is not part of the State of North Dakota or any government agency. Always confirm requirements on the state's own pages before you apply.
To become a vendor in North Dakota, you register your business in NDBuys (holds the state Bidders List), the supplier system run by State Procurement Office, North Dakota Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The official pages we read state no registration fee. Once you are registered and have picked your Commodity codes selected in NDBuys codes, state agencies can find you and you can receive notices for bids that match what you sell. Right now EasBid lists 32 open government bids in North Dakota from state, local and federal sources.
North Dakota vendor registration at a glance
| Where to register | NDBuys (holds the state Bidders List) |
|---|---|
| Who runs state purchasing | State Procurement Office, North Dakota Office of Management and Budget (OMB) |
| Registration fee | No fee for the Bidders List is stated on the official page; the Secretary of State's business registration fees depend on business type |
| Codes used to match bids | Commodity codes selected in NDBuys (code system not named on the page read) |
| Certification programs | None listed on the pages we read |
| Facts checked | November 10, 2026 |
How to register as a North Dakota vendor, step by step
These are the steps as the state describes them, in plain words. The portal may word things differently, and it can change, so keep the official page open beside you.
- Open the Bidder Registration application on NDBuys, the state's procurement system, to join the OMB Bidders List.
- Enter your identifying details, addresses and contacts.
- Give the email address where you want solicitation notices sent.
- Pick commodity codes for each kind of good or service you offer; some services fit more than one code.
- Finish the registration and watch for the confirmation email, then log in to NDBuys to keep your profile current.
- If you win a bid, register with the North Dakota Secretary of State before the contract is signed and keep that registration active for the whole contract.
What to have ready before you start
Registration goes faster when the basics are in front of you. For North Dakota, gather:
- Your legal business name exactly as it appears on your tax records, and any trade name you use.
- Your federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), or a Social Security number for a sole proprietor, since the state uses it to match you for payment.
- A business address, a phone number and an email address that someone reads every day; bid notices and questions from buyers go there.
- A short list of what you sell, so you can choose the matching Commodity codes selected in NDBuys codes in one sitting.
- Successful bidders must be registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State before contract execution (N.D.C.C. § 54-44.4-09 and 54-44.4-09.1)
- OMB also has a 'Register as Payee' process for receiving payment
Does it cost anything to register in North Dakota?
No fee is stated on the official pages we read: No fee for the Bidders List is stated on the official page; the Secretary of State's business registration fees depend on business type. Be careful with outside services that offer to register you for a price. The state's own portal is where registration happens, and North Dakota does not require you to use a paid middleman to sell to its agencies. Some separate things can cost money, such as a notary for a form, a professional license, insurance or a bid bond on construction work.
Which commodity codes does North Dakota use?
North Dakota matches vendors to bids with Commodity codes selected in NDBuys (code system not named on the page read). The state uses its own list of commodity or service codes. Choose every code that truly matches your work, because those codes decide which bid notices are emailed to you. If you also want federal work, you will need NAICS codes for SAM.gov; our free NAICS code lookup and the guide what a NAICS code is help you pick them.
Cities, counties and school districts in North Dakota
Cities, counties and school districts usually run their own purchasing and bid lists, so registering with the state does not register you with them; check each local buyer you want to sell to.
EasBid reads many of these local sources together with the state's, so one search shows state and local bids side by side.
What North Dakota agencies are buying right now
As of November 11, 2026, EasBid lists 32 open bids in North Dakota. The busiest categories are Construction & Trades (13), IT, Software & Telecom (8), Medical & Healthcare (4). Looking at what is open now is a good way to choose your codes and to see which agencies buy what you sell.
- North Dakota Construction & Trades bids 13 open
- North Dakota IT, Software & Telecom bids 8 open
- Medical & Healthcare 4 open
- Equipment, Supplies & MRO 2 open
- Defense, Aerospace & Research 2 open
- Facilities, Janitorial & Grounds 2 open
See new North Dakota bids this week.
Federal contracts in North Dakota
A North Dakota registration covers state agencies only. Federal agencies, including the military bases, VA medical centers and national parks in North Dakota, buy through SAM.gov, which has its own free registration and gives you a Unique Entity ID. Our step-by-step guide to registering in SAM.gov walks through it, and federal bids on EasBid lists open notices.
Tips for your first North Dakota bid
- Read the whole solicitation before you price anything; the due date, the question deadline and the submission method are usually on the first pages. Our guide on reading a solicitation shows what to look for.
- Ask questions in writing before the question deadline. Answers are usually posted as an addendum that every bidder can see.
- Check whether the bid needs a license, insurance certificate or bond, and get those started early.
- Submit through the channel the notice names, NDBuys or otherwise, and leave a day of margin; late bids are normally rejected.
- Whether you win or lose, ask for the award results. They show the winning prices and help you price the next one.
New to the bid types? See RFP, RFQ and IFB explained and how to win government contracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to register as a vendor in North Dakota?
No fee is stated on the official North Dakota pages read on November 10, 2026. Registration happens on NDBuys (holds the state Bidders List).
What codes does North Dakota use for vendor registration?
North Dakota uses Commodity codes selected in NDBuys (code system not named on the page read). Pick every code that matches what you sell, because the codes decide which bid notices you receive.
Does registering with North Dakota cover cities and counties?
Usually not. Cities, counties and school districts usually run their own purchasing and bid lists, so registering with the state does not register you with them; check each local buyer you want to sell to.
Is North Dakota vendor registration the same as SAM.gov?
No. NDBuys (holds the state Bidders List) is for North Dakota state agencies. Federal contracts need a separate, free SAM.gov registration.
How do I find North Dakota government bids?
Watch NDBuys (holds the state Bidders List) for state bids and the purchasing pages of the cities, counties and schools you want to sell to. EasBid lists open North Dakota bids from state, local and federal sources in one search (32 open as of November 11, 2026).
Sources
Official pages read for this guide. Facts are summarized in our own words; follow the links for the full official text.
- Vendor Registration Guidelines | Office of Management and Budget North Dakota (omb.nd.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- Doing Business with the State | OMB North Dakota (omb.nd.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- Register as Payee | OMB North Dakota (omb.nd.gov, read November 10, 2026)