By Brian D’Antoni
Selling to Miami-Dade County starts with a vendor record, and the County is offering owners a free, hands-on session to build one. The Strategic Procurement Department's Vendor Registration Boot Camp is set for Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at the Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 Coral Reef Drive, Miami, FL 33157, according to the County notice. The RSVP form lists 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free, space is limited, and the session is meant for businesses not currently registered as County vendors.
The format is practical. Department staff plan to walk attendees through the registration process step by step so a firm is ready to participate in County contracts. That makes the boot camp a working session more than a networking event, and the owners who get the most from it will walk in with their documents ready to upload.
Confirm the start time first
The County notice lists two times. Its main paragraph gives 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the event summary lower on the same page lists 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The RSVP form shows 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plan around the earlier window and confirm with the organizer at spdtraining@miamidade.gov or 305-375-5773 before the day.
Put the documents on a flash drive
The notice asks attendees to bring the following on a flash drive:
- The company's name, address and email, plus the contact person's information.
- A local business tax receipt, if the company's physical address is in Miami-Dade County.
- A Certificate of Corporation.
- A signed and dated W-9 form, revision March 2024.
- Any preprinted IRS form that identifies the business name and EIN.
Small details decide whether an upload goes smoothly. Check that the W-9 is the March 2024 revision, that it carries a signature and a date, and that the business name matches the IRS document exactly. A firm whose physical address is outside the county can skip the local receipt, since the notice ties that item to a Miami-Dade address. Open every file on a second computer before the event to make sure it is readable.
The County also wants attendees to bring a laptop. The library has a limited number on hand, and anyone without one should say so on the registration form so the department can try to accommodate. The RSVP form includes an optional comments box for that note. The notice recommends bringing your own machine to get the most out of the session.
Bidder registration versus a full supplier record
Registration happens in stages. The County's procurement guidance points firms to the Supplier Portal to register as a bidder for future solicitations, and it states separately that a firm must be fully registered as a Miami-Dade County supplier to be eligible for any future award. Vendors with an incomplete registration are directed back to the portal to update their information.
Once registered, a firm receives solicitation notifications in the categories it selects and can submit bids and proposals electronically through INFORMS, the system the County uses to issue competitive solicitations for goods, services, architectural and engineering, and design-build work. For a small firm, choosing those categories carefully is what puts the right opportunities in front of it.
Some contracts call for more than registration. Prequalification and technical certification run through a separate unit at 305-375-5637, and the Small Business Enterprise certification program takes applications online through the Business Management Workforce System, with an assistance line at 305-375-3111. Attending the boot camp does not certify a firm or promise it a contract.
What to ask before you leave
Use the session to learn exactly where your file stands. Three questions cover most of it. Is my supplier registration complete, or only at the bidder stage? Do my selected categories match the work I plan to bid on? Does that work also require prequalification, technical certification or SBE status?
To hold a seat, the RSVP form asks whether you plan to attend and whether you are already a registered County vendor, then requests your name, business name, email address, phone number and FEIN. Keeping the FEIN at hand makes the reservation quick.
Sources
County notice and document list, RSVP form, County procurement guidance.
Related
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Key Facts for Owners and Search
Who is the Miami-Dade vendor boot camp for?
The Vendor Registration Boot Camp is intended for businesses that are not currently registered as vendors with Miami-Dade County, according to the County notice. Strategic Procurement staff walk attendees through registration step by step so the firm is ready to participate in County contracts. Registered vendors with incomplete records can update them through the Supplier Portal.
What does it cost to attend?
Nothing. The County notice describes the boot camp as a free event and says space is limited, so owners should RSVP early. The RSVP form asks for your name, business name, email address, phone number and FEIN, along with whether you plan to attend and whether you are already a registered County vendor.
What time does the boot camp start?
The RSVP form lists Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 Coral Reef Drive, Miami. The County notice lists two times, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its main text and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in a lower summary, so confirm the start time with the organizer before traveling.
Does bidder registration make a firm eligible for awards?
Not on its own. The County's procurement guidance points firms to the Supplier Portal to register as bidders for future solicitations, but says a firm must be fully registered as a Miami-Dade County supplier to be eligible for any future award. Registered firms receive notices in their selected categories and submit bids electronically through INFORMS.
Who do owners contact with questions?
The Strategic Procurement Department takes questions about the boot camp at spdtraining@miamidade.gov or 305-375-5773, according to the County notice. The same number, option 1, reaches the Vendor Outreach and Support Section for registration help. Prequalification questions go to 305-375-5637, and SBE certification questions go to 305-375-3111.
