How do I become a vendor with the City of Boston?
To become a vendor with the City of Boston, you need to register on the City's Supplier Portal. This online system helps businesses work with the city more easily by allowing you to bid on contracts and receive payments. The process involves creating a user account and then completing a vendor profile. Your account will need to be approved, which usually takes a few business days.
Here are the steps to become a vendor:
- Open your internet browser and go to https://procurement.boston.gov.
- Click on the 'Access the Supplier Portal' link or the 'Vendor Registration Form' link.
- Fill out the 'Vendor Registration Form' to create a user account. You will need to enter your tax ID without dashes or spaces. If you don't have a tax ID, you can use your Social Security Number.
- If you have the power to sign contracts for your company, check the 'Signature Authority' box.
- After creating your user account, you will log in and then create your vendor profile by clicking 'Add/Update your Vendor Profile' and then 'Add New Vendor'.
- Fill in all the required information for your vendor profile.
It may take 2 to 3 business days for your account to be approved. A vendor account lets you sign contracts and get payments from the City of Boston.
If you have questions, you can contact Vendor Support:
- Phone: 617-961-1058
- Email: vendor.questions@boston.gov
- Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm (EST) (Please note: One source states 9 am - 5 pm, but the 8:30 am - 5:30 pm is more recent.)
The Supplier Portal is closed for updates every Thursday from 5 pm - 6 pm (EST).