Tick each box as you finish. Every line below is checked against the official page named in it.
-
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.
Cost: $0. Registration in SAM.gov is always free. Time: Up to 10 business days to become active. You renew every 365 days.
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.
Register on SAM.gov (official site): https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________ -
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.
Cost: Free. DOAS’s supplier FAQ, updated June 25, 2021, says the registration process is “fast, free and completed online”. Time: Done online. DOAS’s FAQ, updated June 25, 2021, calls the process “fast”.
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.
Getting started as a supplier (DOAS): https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/getting-started-supplier
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________ -
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.
Cost: Part of the step 2 registration. DOAS says there is no requirement to be certified by a third party. Time: Part of the step 2 registration. When you bid, you may be asked to complete a form confirming your small business status.
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).
DOAS small business FAQ (PDF): https://doas.ga.gov/assets/State%20Purchasing/NEADocumentLibrary/FAQS%20from%20Small%20Business%20Symposium%20November%202020%20FINAL.pdf
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________ -
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.
Cost: Check with GDOT. The DBE Help Desk is (404) 631-1273. Time: Certified firms: by December 24, 2026. New applicants: check GDOT first, because its page says it is not accepting applications now.
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.
GDOT DBE page (official): https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/pages/DBE.aspx
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________ -
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.
Cost: Free to apply. certify.sba.gov says: “SBA does not charge any costs for applying to our programs.” Time: 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.
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.
SBA business certifications (official): https://www.sba.gov/certifications/
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________ -
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: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/office-of-contract-compliance
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________ -
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): https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/georgia-procurement-registry-local-governments/gpr-overview
Date started: ____________ Date done: ____________ Notes: ______________________
Checked Sep 30, 2026. Full steps with the official links: govroute.co/get-bid-ready. GovRoute isn't affiliated with any government agency. General information, not legal advice.