How to register as a vendor with City and County of San Francisco

City and County of San Francisco posts its solicitations on SF City Partner.^[1] Search SF City Partner by department; Office of Contract Administration bids are found by filtering for that department.

BidRover is tracking 68 open bids from buyers in and around City and County of San Francisco. Most common categories:

• General procurement · 36
• Transportation & logistics · 11
• Construction & facilities · 5
• Software & digital services · 3
• Utilities & telecommunications · 3
• Cloud & infrastructure · 2
• Events & hospitality · 2
• Public safety & defense · 2

1. The San Francisco School: Data Transmission And/Or Internet Access (E-Rate FY2027)California, United States · Due Nov 20, 2026
2. Kai Ming Head Start: Data Transmission And/Or Internet Access (E-Rate FY2027)California, United States · Due Nov 18, 2026
3. OCA DT | TM3 – Infoblox Software & Maint. RenewalCalifornia, United States · Due Oct 23, 2026
4. OCA HSA | TM3 – Rubrik Software & Maint RenewalCalifornia, United States · Due Oct 24, 2026
5. OCA DPW | Davinci Slate Roof Covering MaterialsCalifornia, United States · Due Oct 28, 2026
6. EXT MOH | 2901-2929 16th St ElectricalCalifornia, United States · Due Nov 5, 2026

1. 01

   Register on SF City Partner Registered Bidder and Supplier registration

   Start registration. Cost: No fee listed by the City. Fill out a W-9, register as a Bidder (about 15 minutes) and get a Bidder ID by email, then link it to your 7-digit Business Account Number. The Controller's Office emails a Supplier ID after review, usually within a few days. Contracts above $230,000 also need the Equal Benefits (12B) declaration.^[2]

2. 02

   Have your San Francisco Business Registration Certificate

   A current certificate from the Treasurer and Tax Collector is the first step; its Business Account Number links to your Bidder ID.^[2]

3. 03

   Choose your commodity codes

   Notifications are sent by the codes in your vendor profile. Pick every code that describes your work, and revisit them when you add a service.

4. 04

   Get certified if you qualify

   14B Local Business Enterprise (LBE) Program, through the Contract Monitoring Division (CMD). Free; Micro-LBE, Small-LBE and SBA-LBE tiers earn bid discounts and rating bonuses; not required to bid.^[3]

5. 05

   Watch the other buyers

   State agencies in California buy through the state portal, and school districts, transit agencies and utilities in the area usually post on their own sites. Registering with City and County of San Francisco does not register you with them.

Exact requirements vary by portal; the registration page linked above is the authority. Most ask for:

• Your legal business name and address exactly as registered with the state, and your federal tax ID (EIN, or SSN for some sole proprietors).
• A signed IRS Form W-9, which most buyers collect before they can pay you.
• Commodity codes (NIGP, UNSPSC or NAICS, depending on the portal) for every product and service you sell.
• A contact who will receive bid notices, plus any business license or registration the jurisdiction requires.
• Certificates of insurance and, for construction, bonding capacity: these are usually requested per bid rather than at registration.

Departments can buy commodities and general services of $20,000 or less on their own after trying to get three quotes; above $20,000 the Office of Contract Administration runs a formal bid.^[4]

• You can bid as a Registered Bidder, but you must finish the Supplier steps before the City can fully award you a contract.
• LBE applicants need a fixed San Francisco location (or PUC water service area) and a business license held at least six months.

1. sf.gov/resource--2023--find-oca-bid-opportunities
2. sf.gov/step-by-step--become-city-supplier
3. sf.gov/get-certified-lbe
4. sf.gov/resource-chapter-21-contracting-basics-suppliers