The division falls under the Florida Department of Management Services and is responsible for all state contracts and agreements for commodities and services.
When dealing with the division, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- All vendors must have an active registration with the Division of Corporations
- Vendors must be actively registered with MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) Vendor Information Portal
- Vendors must have a copy of their E-Verify status online
- Vendors must have a current Substitute Form W-9 on file with the Department of Financial Services
- Lastly, vendors should not be on the state’s Convicted, Discriminatory, Suspended or Antitrust Violator Vendor lists
For context, MFMP is the state’s online procurement portal for state agencies and vendors to exchange products and services. According to the department’s website, “MFMP allows for the registration of vendors, creation of solicitations by customers, management and display of catalogs for contracted commodities and services, order placement, purchase approvals, invoice reconciliations, and payment approvals.”
As for the MFMP Vendor Information Portal, the online repository can be used for procurements higher than $35,000, including invitations to bid, requests for proposals and invitations to negotiate. To register for the portal, vendors must do the following:
- Enter their business information, including a federal Employer Identification Number; location information for ordering, payment and billing; contact information and a preferred ordering method
- Commodity codes for the products and services they offer
- Participate in electronic procurement events in the portal and have an email address on file to receive notifications about business opportunities
- Create a business network account to submit responses to electronic solicitations
- Review and accept the MFMP Terms of Use
Once all these steps are complete, vendors can view all advertisements, grants, competitive solicitations, single-source procurements, public meetings and agency decisions through the portal.
Also noteworthy for vendors is distinguishing whether they are a woman-, veteran- or minority-owned small business to be recognized as a certified business enterprise (CBE) by the state. By doing so, CBEs are listed on the portal and referred to organizations like state and local government, colleges, universities and private companies. CBEs also have the opportunity to network with government buyers at regional events and receive targeted communications for solicitation opportunities.
More information about working with the state can be found online.
