Start with two free registrations: SAM.gov for federal bids and GA@WORK for state bids. The rest are only for some businesses.
Certifications are separate steps. DOAS’s 2021 supplier FAQ says there is no requirement to be a certified DBE or MBE to win state contracts, and no requirement that a small business be certified by a third party.
The 7 steps
Certified Georgia DBE? There is a deadline: December 24, 2026.
GDOT says all currently certified Georgia DBE firms must submit a Personal Narrative and a Personal Net Worth statement for reevaluation by December 24, 2026, and that a firm that misses the deadline will be disqualified. Step 4 has the details.
Never pay to register.
Registering in SAM.gov is always free. GSA says the government will never ask you to pay to register, update your registration or renew, and that a message or site that asks for money is not a government message or site.
Step 1 of 7
Register in SAM.gov
SAM.gov is where you register to start doing business with the federal government. A registration allows you to bid on government contracts and apply for federal assistance.
- Who issues it
- The federal government, through SAM.gov.
- Cost
- $0. Registration in SAM.gov is always free.
- Time it takes
- Up to 10 business days to become active. You renew every 365 days.
- What to gather
- Your legal business name and physical address. That is all you need if you only want a Unique Entity ID.
- For a full registration you enter a lot more about your business. SAM.gov has an Entity Registration Checklist to help you gather it.
- Full or ID only
- If you choose to get only a Unique Entity ID, you cannot apply directly for federal awards.
- Free help
- SAM.gov points to your local APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC) for free help completing registration.
Register on SAM.gov (official site)
Checked on Sep 30, 2026.
Step 2 of 7
Register in GA@WORK Marketplace for Suppliers
DOAS says the first step in becoming a supplier to the State of Georgia is registering your company in GA@WORK Marketplace for Suppliers. Registering also gets you automatic email notification of matching bids.
- Who issues it
- The Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), State Purchasing.
- Cost
- Free. DOAS’s supplier FAQ, updated June 25, 2021, says the registration process is “fast, free and completed online”.
- Time it takes
- Done online. DOAS’s FAQ, updated June 25, 2021, calls the process “fast”.
- What to gather
- A tax ID number. DOAS’s FAQ says that if you have one, you can register as a business.
- The NIGP codes for your kind of work. The registration has a search for them. The codes in your profile decide which solicitations you are emailed about.
- Which type to pick
- Register as a Sourcing Bidder if your company has never done business with the State of Georgia. Register as a Supplier if it has.
- Name
- Some DOAS pages still say Team Georgia Marketplace. It is the same registration.
- Help
- State Purchasing help desk: 404-657-6000.
Getting started as a supplier (DOAS)
Checked on Sep 30, 2026.
Step 3 of 7
Mark your business as a small business
DOAS encourages every business that meets Georgia’s definition of a small business to select “small business” when it registers as a supplier. You do this yourself. There is no third-party certificate.
- Who issues it
- DOAS State Purchasing, inside your registration in step 2.
- Cost
- Part of the step 2 registration. DOAS says there is no requirement to be certified by a third party.
- Time it takes
- Part of the step 2 registration. When you bid, you may be asked to complete a form confirming your small business status.
- What to gather
- Your employee count or your yearly gross receipts. The FAQ (updated June 25, 2021) says Georgia law defines a small business as independently owned and operated, with 300 or fewer employees or $30 million or less in gross receipts per year (Tier 3).
- Free help
- DOAS names the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as free resources for small businesses. UGA SBDC says its consulting is provided at no cost to Georgia small business owners.
Checked on Sep 30, 2026. The FAQ was updated June 25, 2021. Confirm the current definition when you register.
Step 4 of 7
GDOT DBE certification
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is run in Georgia by GDOT, or by MARTA for firms in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties. On September 25, 2026 the U.S. Department of Transportation published a Final Rule with no race or sex based presumptions.
- Who issues it
- The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), or MARTA for firms in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties.
- Cost
- Check with GDOT. The DBE Help Desk is (404) 631-1273.
- Time it takes
- Certified firms: by December 24, 2026. New applicants: check GDOT first, because its page says it is not accepting applications now.
- What to gather
- Certified firms: the Personal Narrative form. The Personal Net Worth statement is part of it.
- New applicants: nothing yet. GDOT’s page has an “Apply for Certification” section, so check it for the current application.
- Already certified
- Submit the Personal Narrative and Personal Net Worth statement by December 24, 2026. GDOT says a firm that misses the deadline will be disqualified. Firms in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties submit to MARTA.
- Not certified yet
- GDOT’s page says: “Georgia DOT is currently not accepting DBE Interstate applications or Uniform Certification applications.” We read it on Sep 30, 2026.
- State MBE
- DOAS’s FAQ (updated June 25, 2021) says a company that wants to certify as a minority business enterprise may do so by first applying for DBE certification to GDOT.
Checked on Sep 30, 2026. GDOT’s older “How can I become DBE certified” brochure is not used here: it was written before the Final Rule.
Step 5 of 7
SBA certifications: 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned, veteran-owned
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) runs business certifications for federal contracting: 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone and SDVOSB.
- Who issues it
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
- Cost
- Free to apply. certify.sba.gov says: “SBA does not charge any costs for applying to our programs.”
- Time it takes
- Women-owned (WOSB): SBA decides within 90 calendar days after receiving a complete package. HUBZone: you recertify every three years. For 8(a) and veteran-owned, check SBA.
- What to gather
- SBA describes MySBA Certifications as a single application for its federal contracting certifications. Read each program’s SBA page for its own rules before you apply.
- 8(a)
- At least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged, with a personal net worth of $850 thousand or less, adjusted gross income of $400 thousand or less, and assets totaling $6.5 million or less.
- HUBZone
- Principal office located in a HUBZone, and at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone.
- Women-owned (WOSB)
- At least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens.
- Veteran-owned
- At least 51% veteran ownership. For a service-disabled veteran-owned business (SDVOSB), eligible veterans must have a service-connected disability.
- Scams
- SBA says the only legitimate SBA phone number related to Certifications is 1-866-SBA-HELP.
SBA business certifications (official)
Checked on Sep 30, 2026.
Step 6 of 7
City of Atlanta contracts: EBO and SBO
For City of Atlanta contracts, use the City’s own supplier and certification pages.
The City of Atlanta’s supplier pages
Checked on Sep 30, 2026. We could not read the City’s page, so this step says nothing about its rules.
Step 7 of 7
Watch for bids
Registering does not tell you when a bid is posted. The Georgia Procurement Registry is a state-run website that lists bid opportunities from state and local government entities. Suppliers and the public can use it to learn about bid opportunities.
About the Georgia Procurement Registry (DOAS)
- SAM.gov
- Your registration from step 1 is what allows you to bid on federal contracts. SAM.gov
- GovRoute
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GovRoute is a private service covering Georgia and Tennessee, not a government agency. Every morning it checks the Georgia Procurement Registry, SAM.gov (Georgia) and a growing list of county and city bid pages in Georgia, plus the public bid sources we read in Tennessee, and emails you the new public bids that fit your trade and area on mornings with a new match. It never signs for you or uses your login. With an agency, the only thing it does for you is submit, by email, a bid you've signed off on.
Silver $49, Gold $149 or Platinum $499 a month.
Checked on Sep 30, 2026.
GovRoute isn't affiliated with any government agency. This page is general information with links to each official source. It is not legal advice, and we never fill in or submit anyone's registration.