How to become a vendor in Vermont
Updated November 11, 2026. Registration facts checked on official Vermont 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 Vermont or any government agency. Always confirm requirements on the state's own pages before you apply.
To become a vendor in Vermont, you register your business in VTBuys, the supplier system run by Office of Purchasing and Contracting, Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS). The official pages we read state no registration fee. Once you are registered and have picked your VTBuys commodity codes codes, state agencies can find you and you can receive notices for bids that match what you sell. Right now EasBid lists 88 open government bids in Vermont from state, local and federal sources.
Vermont vendor registration at a glance
| Where to register | VTBuys |
|---|---|
| Who runs state purchasing | Office of Purchasing and Contracting, Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) |
| Registration fee | No fee stated on the official page |
| Codes used to match bids | VTBuys commodity codes (realigned to higher-level codes on Dec 16, 2025; 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 Vermont 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.
- Sign up as a Supplier in VTBuys, Vermont's central procurement system.
- New suppliers fill out an initial registration to do business with the state; suppliers who already had a state record create a password and finish their business registration.
- Choose your commodity codes; VTBuys moved to fewer, higher-level codes on December 16, 2025 and offers a cross-reference spreadsheet from the old codes.
- Use the state's Supplier and Bidder training videos if you need help registering or logging in.
- Once registered, watch state bid opportunities and current contracts in VTBuys and respond to the ones that fit.
What to have ready before you start
Registration goes faster when the basics are in front of you. For Vermont, 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 VTBuys commodity codes codes in one sitting.
The pages we read did not list any extra state tax certificate or form for registration itself; individual bids can still ask for insurance, licenses or a bond.
Does it cost anything to register in Vermont?
No fee is stated on the official pages we read: No fee stated on the official page. Be careful with outside services that offer to register you for a price. The state's own portal is where registration happens, and Vermont 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 Vermont use?
Vermont matches vendors to bids with VTBuys commodity codes (realigned to higher-level codes on Dec 16, 2025; 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 Vermont
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 Vermont agencies are buying right now
As of November 11, 2026, EasBid lists 88 open bids in Vermont. The busiest categories are Construction & Trades (45), Consulting & Professional Services (6), IT, Software & Telecom (5). Looking at what is open now is a good way to choose your codes and to see which agencies buy what you sell.
- Vermont Construction & Trades bids 45 open
- Vermont Consulting & Professional Services bids 6 open
- Vermont IT, Software & Telecom bids 5 open
- Vermont Facilities, Janitorial & Grounds bids 5 open
- Medical & Healthcare 4 open
- Utilities, Energy & Environment 4 open
See new Vermont bids this week.
Federal contracts in Vermont
A Vermont registration covers state agencies only. Federal agencies, including the military bases, VA medical centers and national parks in Vermont, 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 Vermont 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, VTBuys 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 Vermont?
No fee is stated on the official Vermont pages read on November 10, 2026. Registration happens on VTBuys.
What codes does Vermont use for vendor registration?
Vermont uses VTBuys commodity codes (realigned to higher-level codes on Dec 16, 2025; 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 Vermont 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 Vermont vendor registration the same as SAM.gov?
No. VTBuys is for Vermont state agencies. Federal contracts need a separate, free SAM.gov registration.
How do I find Vermont government bids?
Watch VTBuys for state bids and the purchasing pages of the cities, counties and schools you want to sell to. EasBid lists open Vermont bids from state, local and federal sources in one search (88 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.
- Suppliers & Bidders | VTBuys Procurement (vtbuysprocurement.vermont.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- Office of Purchasing and Contracting | Buildings and General Services (bgs.vermont.gov, read November 10, 2026)