The online help below will guide you through the process of registering for a new account. If you prefer printable instructions or more details, see the Training Guides and References.
You need to have the following information on hand to complete your account registration:
• Information on each location of your company (the first location entered will be considered Headquarters)
• Tax ID Number (this can also be your SSN if you are an individual)
• Legal Business Name
• Contact Information (name, address, email, phone and fax) for the following:
– Account Administrator
– Ordering
– Payment
• Descriptions of your products and services (for example, commodity codes)
See the lists of Commodity Codes for Products and Services and Commodity Codes for Professional Services for more information.
1. Click New Registration to create a new account.
2. Complete the information as appropriate for your account. Please note that the required fields (where information must be entered) are marked with red asterisks. Refer to the following table for help with specific areas and fields where you may have questions.
VSS Page |
Steps and Tips |
My User Information |
Complete the fields as appropriate. General Information Create a User ID and make sure to write it down. You will need it to continue with account registration. Use a valid email address. The State of Alabama will use your email address as the primary way to communicate with vendors. Password Passwords must be at least eight characters long and include at least one capital letter and at least one number. Passwords are case sensitive. You must remember your password in order to complete registration. Click Next. |
Verify Email Address |
The message indicates that an email will be sent to the email address you provided. Click Next. |
Check your email inbox. Open the email from "STAARS-NPD-noreply." Click the link shown toward the bottom of the email. (If the link does not open a page when you click it, copy the link and paste it into the browser bar of Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.) |
|
Login |
Enter the user ID and password you created for your account. Click Login. |
Add Business Location – New Account Registration |
Complete the fields as appropriate. TIN Type This can be either your TIN (if you are a business) or your SSN (if you are an individual). Classification Select the appropriate classification for your status as a vendor. |
Step 2: My Business Information |
Complete the fields as appropriate. Location Verification If you are a vendor in the United States, select Use My TIN Number (this can be your SSN). For foreign vendors, select Create My Own. Vendor Verification Based On is a field that allows you to enter in a word or phrase to help remind you of your vendor verification password. This is not the same as your login password. EFT Information Use a bank check to determine your ABA Number and Account Number. Note: The ABA Number is the same number as the Routing Number. If you select Email as the Remittance Advice Transmission Mode, you MUST add a valid email on your PAYMENT address. If this is not done, you will receive an error message when trying to submit. |
Add Business Location – Address Information Questionnaire |
Legal Address Information This is a summary of the information provided on the previous page. Review this and make sure it is accurate. Address Questions Answer the questions regarding the address listed above. If this is not the same address that you will use for Payment, Ordering, or Billing then you are able to add more addresses later. In order to learn about adding multiple business locations to one Headquarters account, see the FAQ page on the STAARS Vendor Information website. |
Step 3: Addresses and Contacts |
Complete the fields as appropriate. Address Information Although it is not marked as required, a phone number is required for your Address and Primary Contact. |
Step 4: Additional Business Information |
Complete the fields as appropriate. Commodities In order to receive email notifications about any bids posted, you must be registered for the commodity codes. Use this page to browse the different commodity codes and add any necessary codes to your account. You will not receive notification of bids unless you the appropriate commodity code is associated with your account. The State of Alabama uses NIGP commodity codes. See the list of Commodity Codes for Products and Services and Commodity Codes for Professional Services for more information. Business Types This page lists all business types associated with your VSS account. Use this list to associate your account with any appropriate business types. |
Registration Summary |
Verify all information displayed for accuracy. If you need to correct any information, click Update Information. |
3. Click Submit Registration.
4. The final step is to submit a substitute W-9 certification form and supporting security documentation. To complete the W-9 form, click the W-9 link that displays on the last registration page. The form is pre-filled with your company information.
For information on using VSS to manage your account information, view your financial transactions, participate in bid opportunities, and perform other tasks, see the Vendor Self Service Guide.