Register as a Vendor

The City of Mobile requires that contractors obtain insurance coverage before working with the city. Business insurance is a great way to protect against unforeseen events and catastrophes. The type and amount of insurance coverage your business needs will depend on the type of work your business does. For more information on requirements, click the link below to learn more about Mobile’s insurance requirements.

What is E-Verify?
The federal government uses the E-Verify system to confirm that your employees are eligible to work in the United States.
If they have not already done so, each of your employees will need to complete an I-9 form, which asks for basic information like their name, social security number and citizenship status.
The E-Verify system then compares this information with records from the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
Using E-Verify helps manage your hiring and demonstrates that you are in compliance with immigration laws. If you intend to work with the City of Mobile, you will need to enroll in E-Verify. How do I enroll in E-Verify?
To enroll in E-Verify as an employer, go to the E-Verify Website and select “I am an Employer.” From there you can fill out the form online and sign the Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU. You may also need to complete some training to learn how to use E-Verify to verify that your employees are legally allowed to work in the U.S.

What is a W-9 Form?
A W-9 collects basic information about your business, such as your business name, address, and EIN.
How do I complete a W-9 Form?
You can download a W-9 Form online here.
How long will it take me to complete a W-9 form?
Assuming you have already obtained an EIN, completing a W-9 for your business should take just a few minutes.

What is the Vendor Self-Service Portal, or VSS?
The Vendor Self Service (VSS) portal provides you with the options to register your company with the City of Mobile to do business, view your invoices, view purchase orders, check and contracts issued to your company, as well as view bids submitted by your company.
What are the advantages of using VSS
VSS provides 24/7 access to the business in order to make working with the City of Mobile easer: update contact information easily to be in COM's database, upload documentation needed to do business with the City of Mobile, and look at documents and transactions.
How do I register for the Vendor Self-Service Portal?
You can apply online using the Vendor Self-Service Portal.
You will need the following information to complete the registration process:

• Business name
• Email address
• Physical and/or Mailing address
• Business EIN
• DUNS Number
• Business Certification(s)

Additionally, you will need to upload the following documents to complete your VSS registration:

• Signed copy of W-9
• Current City of Mobile Business License
• E-Verify Information
• Insurance & Bonding Information
• Specialty Certifications & Licenses (i.e. DBE, Homebuilders, etc.)

How long does it take to register for the Vendor Self-Service Portal?
The application to become Vendor typically takes about 30 minutes to complete.

It can take up to 30 days for the City to process payment through physical check. If you’d like faster access to your payments, you can sign up for electronic funds transfer to your bank account. After submitting your W-9, the Portal will ask you to provide bank account details for electronic payment.

How do I sign up to receive payments from the City electronically?
Locate the nine-digit routing number and account number at the bottom of a blank check from your business bank account. Visit the Vendor Self Service Portal and enter this information in your Vendor Profile, taking care to avoid typos. Any incorrect information could delay payment to your account.

How long will it take to get paid once I am signed up to receive electronic payments from the City?
Once you have entered your business bank account information to your Vendor Profile, you will receive a confirmation email.