How to Register on eVA: Virginia’s Procurement Portal (2026 Step-by-Step)

Quick Answer

eVA is Virginia’s procurement marketplace, and registering is the step that makes Virginia contracts possible. Registration is free, reaches 100+ agencies and universities at once, and is not complete until you submit a Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9. Choose your NIGP commodity codes carefully, they decide which solicitations ever reach you.

Why eVA registration comes first

If you want Virginia government work, eVA registration is the step that makes it possible. eVA is the Commonwealth’s central marketplace, where state agencies and public universities post solicitations and pay their vendors. If you are not registered, buyers cannot find you, cannot send you notifications, and cannot legally cut you a check. One registration reaches more than 100 agencies and universities at once, it is free, and it turns wanting Virginia work into seeing it land in your inbox.

Gather your paperwork first

Before you start, have your legal business name and your federal tax ID (FEIN) ready, along with your contact details and remittance information, that is where payments get sent. If you already hold a SWaM certificate, keep it handy. You will also complete a Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9 as part of the process.

How to register (step by step)

The full walkthrough is in the video above. The short version:

Create your vendor account. Go to the eVA Register Now page. You will choose Basic or Premium, both are free to register; Premium only adds optional tools and visibility.
Complete the Substitute W-9. This form is mandatory. It captures your tax and remittance details so agencies know how to pay you. Until eVA receives it, your registration is not complete.
Select your NIGP commodity codes. Virginia uses NIGP codes, not NAICS, to match vendors to work. Choose every code that reflects what you actually sell.
Turn on notifications and submit. Once your Substitute W-9 is processed, your account activates and matching solicitations start finding you.

The mistakes that bounce applications

Skipping the Substitute W-9 is the top cause of stalled registrations. Picking too few NIGP codes is a close second, you simply never hear about relevant work. Do not confuse the transaction fee with a registration fee: registering is free, the 0.75 percent fee only applies to actual purchases. And keep your contact and remittance information current, stale details mean missed notifications and delayed payment.

For the full written guide with the official portal link and last-verified date, see the eVA vendor registration guide, and browse all DC, Maryland, and Virginia document walkthroughs.

Frequently asked questions

What is eVA?

eVA is Virginia’s central eProcurement marketplace. State agencies and public universities post their solicitations and pay their vendors through it. One free registration makes your business visible to more than 100 Virginia agencies and universities and eligible for automatic solicitation notifications.

Does it cost anything to register on eVA?

No. Registration is free, and both the Basic and Premium service levels are free to register. Do not confuse the transaction fee with a registration fee: registering costs nothing, and the 0.75 percent fee only applies to actual purchases made through eVA.

Why is my eVA registration not complete?

The most common reason is a missing Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9. It is mandatory. Until eVA processes it, your registration is not considered complete and you stay invisible to buyers. Choosing too few NIGP commodity codes is the second most common problem, it means you never get notified about relevant work.

Does eVA use NAICS codes?

No. Virginia matches vendors to solicitations using NIGP commodity codes, not NAICS. Choose every NIGP code that reflects what you actually sell, that list drives every notification you will receive.

Do I still need SWaM certification if I register on eVA?

They are separate. eVA registration is what lets buyers find and pay you. SWaM certification is Virginia’s small, women-owned, and minority-owned business program that unlocks set-aside work. Pair the two and you are fully set up to bid across the Commonwealth.