Before You Start: Required Registrations and Training
Register as a Business with the Oregon Secretary of State (SOS)
All suppliers and grantees doing business with the state must register with the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division.
What does "doing business" mean?
If you expect to profit from your activities in Oregon, you are probably doing business. A taxpayer having one or more of the following in Oregon is clearly doing business in this state:
- An office
- A place of business (other than an office) where affairs of the corporation are regularly conducted
- Employees or representatives providing services, such as accounting or personal services, to customers as the primary business activity
- Employees or representatives providing services incidental to the sale of tangible or intangible personal property, such as installation, inspection, maintenance, warranty, or repair of a product
- An economic presence through which the taxpayer regularly takes advantage of Oregon's economy to produce income
- A stock of goods
Additional information can be found on
the Secretary of State website.
Certification Office of Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID)
Oregon works to ensure that minority, women-owned, and emerging small businesses (MWESB) have equal opportunity to compete for state contracts.
Learn more about
COBID and how to become an MWESB supplier.
Construction Contractors Board
Any supplier providing construction-related services must be licensed with
the Construction Contractors Board.
SAM/UEI Registration for Subrecipients of Federal Funds
If you're not receiving federal funds directly but receive them through another organization, such as OHCS, you’re likely a subrecipient and must
register for a Unique Entity ID (UEI).
Required Training: Oregon Pay Equity Law (When It Applies)
Suppliers with a public contract valued at $500,000 or more and with 50 or more employees are required to complete pay equity training and submit a certificate of completion as proof before they may be awarded a contract or price agreement.
More information and free training is available on DAS' website.
Register in OregonBuys
OHCS uses
OregonBuys to post and manage all bids, proposals, and other sourcing event activities. Registration with OregonBuys is free. Be cautious of third-party solicitations that try to charge fees unrelated to OregonBuys.
View detailed instructions on how to register in OregonBuys.
For registration assistance, contact the OregonBuys Supplier Helpdesk:
NIGP Codes: Why They Matter and How to Choose Them
NIGP codes categorize your products and services. OregonBuys uses these codes to determine which suppliers to notify about new opportunities. If your codes are accurate, you’ll receive notices about the right types of opportunities from OHCS and other Oregon agencies. Choosing the right code ensures you don’t miss out on opportunities relevant to your business.
952‑37 Emergency Shelter
952‑55 Homelessness Prevention Services
952‑78 Safe Housing
952‑92 Transitional Living
952‑74 Referral Services
952‑75 Refugee Assistance
918‑63 Housing Consulting
946‑49 Financial Services
961‑75 Translation Services
924‑60 Not‑for‑Credit Workshops
952-40 Elderly Assistance Services
969-10 Computer Programming Services
920-00 Computer, Programming, and Software Services
920-40 Programming Services (including Mobile Device Applications)
208-10 Accounting/Financial Software
208-20 Business Software
208-68 Project Management Software
946-49 Financial Services
924-00 Educational/Training Services
To find relevant NIGP Codes, sign into OregonBuys and click the question-mark icon near the top-right of the screen. Select "NIGP Code Browse" to go to the lookup screen. From there, search by keyword. You can also check your NIGP codes on this screen to ensure they are accurate and up to date.
Finding OHCS Opportunities
OregonBuys is the official place to find procurement notices and awards, including current opportunities from OHCS. For registration assistance, please refer to the Register in OregonBuys section above.
Responding to an OHCS Solicitation
- Read the full solicitation.
- Submit questions in the format requested in the solicitation (and by the deadline).
- Complete the required forms and include all requested forms.
- Check for addenda and confirm you’re responding to the latest version.
- Submit in the format specified (OregonBuys electronic response or email, as stated in the solicitation).
- Monitor for award notices.
Insurance Requirements
As you enter into contracts and agreements with OHCS, you will be required to provide and maintain insurance coverage, including providing proof of insurance in the form of a certificate of insurance. Required insurance coverage must remain in effect throughout the term of the contract.
Specific insurance requirements will be specified in the solicitation or contractual documents. Generally, OHCS requires Commercial General Liability, an additional insured endorsement naming Oregon as an additional insured, and other coverage, depending on services. Share the specific contractual requirements with your licensed insurance agent early. All required insurance coverage must be fully in effect before the execution of any contract or grant agreement.
View
OHCS' Insurance Standards.
Standard Timelines
These timelines are approximate, as many variables apply. The list below is a small representation of options.
Small Business Resources