Becoming a Vendor with Maricopa County

The CATALYST recently hosted a valuable and informative workshop focused on guiding local businesses through the process of becoming a vendor with Maricopa County. With the County purchasing more than $750 million annually in goods, services, and construction, this opportunity represents a major avenue for small businesses to grow and thrive.

During the workshop, attendees received a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create a vendor profile in Maricopa County’s newly launched procurement portal. This new system requires all vendors—new and existing—to register in order to submit bids and view available opportunities.

To become a certified small business vendor with Maricopa County, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Size: Fewer than 100 employees and no more than $4 million in annual gross receipts.
• Location: A physical presence in Maricopa County, or at least 50% of employees or gross income generated from a County-based location.
• Operation History: At least one year of continuous operation.
• Compliance: In good standing with the Arizona Department of Revenue and other regulatory bodies, and current on all County taxes.

Vendors must also comply with several County-specific requirements, including:

• Insurance: Varies based on the type of service or product provided.
• Licensure: Such as the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) or Board of Technical Registration.
• E-Verify: In compliance with ARS 23-214.
• Background Checks: Required for work involving access to courts, jails, and similar facilities.
• Standard Terms & Conditions: Available at maricopa.gov/procurement.

Presenters emphasized the importance of being both responsive and responsible when submitting bids. Key takeaways included:

• Read the entire bid packet before responding.
• Highlight sections relevant to your business.
• Address all specifics outlined in the bid.
• Submit a fair price—don't overextend your capabilities.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your bid.
• Follow all instructions carefully and include every required document.

The workshop also covered what to expect after a bid is accepted and stressed the importance of staying organized and communicative to ensure a successful partnership with the County.

By the end of the workshop, participants had successfully created active profiles in the County’s new procurement portal and were ready to begin exploring and submitting bids.

Maricopa County is committed to increasing participation from small and local businesses. If you're a small business owner interested in working with the County, contact The CATALYST to learn more about how to get started.