Register for a Commonwealth Vendor Number

Acquiring a Commonwealth Supplier Number through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a prerequisite to proceed through the COSTARS supplier authorization process.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although it is a prerequisite, registering and receiving a vendor number from the Commonwealth DOES NOT YET MEAN a supplier has been awarded a contract or has permission to sell to COSTARS members.  To become a COSTARS supplier, you must complete steps #3 and #4 by submitting a contract bid and submitting payment for the annual administrative fee once you have been awarded a contract.

If you need assistance with your Commonwealth supplier registration, the Supplier Help Desk may be reached at RA-PSCSRMPortal@pa.gov. 

This step only applies to companies who meet Small and Small Diverse Business eligibility requirements.  If this does not apply to you, you can move to the next step.

The Commonwealth maintains a strong commitment to providing opportunities for small and diverse businesses for prime contracting opportunities with the goal of promoting the economic growth and success of these types of businesses. View eligibility requirements and apply for certification with the Department of General Services by selecting the tile in step 2.

DGS does not post on its website any one particular COSTARS member’s request to contract for a specific purchase.  Any contract that DGS bids as a COSTARS-exclusive contract is available for use to ALL COSTARS members for various transactions.

Click on the Bid # of the contract you want to participate in, read the Contract Reference Documents within the Invitation for Bid, and select Bid Now to begin your bid submission.   Each contract and electronic bid forms are specific to the COSTARS contract number they are linked to.  (The Guide to COSTARS Contracts is a handy resource to help you define the product categories that fall under each contract.)

The last step to becoming a COSTARS supplier is to submit payment for the annual administrative fee per awarded contract.  Once a bid package is received and approved, the COSTARS team will email an invoice for the administrative fee per contract. 

Upon COSTARS receipt of payment for the invoiced amount, a supplier’s participation is considered active, and the supplier is then able  to download the COSTARS member list and begin transacting with the members.​