PA Supplier Portal, COSTARS cooperative purchasing, Small Diverse Business certification, and the DGS-led procurement system.
Last reviewed on May 12, 2026.
Pennsylvania centralizes state procurement under the Department of General Services (DGS) Bureau of Procurement, with some specialized procurement handled by other agencies (notably PennDOT for transportation construction and engineering). The legal framework is the Commonwealth Procurement Code (62 Pa.C.S. § 101 et seq.). DGS operates the PA Supplier Portal as the centralized eProcurement system.
Pennsylvania also runs COSTARS, one of the largest state cooperative purchasing programs in the country. COSTARS contracts award through state-level competition but are open to use by participating municipalities, school districts, and other public entities across the Commonwealth. For vendors selling commodities and standardized services, COSTARS often provides faster access to the broader Pennsylvania public market than registering separately with each locality.
The Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion, and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO) administers Pennsylvania's small diverse business certifications. Categories include:
Pennsylvania agencies have small diverse business contracting goals. Prime contractors typically carry subcontracting commitments on contracts above the relevant thresholds. Like other state certifications, PA SDB does not transfer to or from federal certifications — vendors apply separately at the state level.
| Entity | Procurement focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) | Highway construction, bridges, engineering services, materials | Independent procurement and contracting systems |
| Department of Human Services (DHS) | Medicaid, behavioral health, child welfare, IT | Multi-billion managed care contracts |
| Department of Education (PDE) | Educational technology, assessment, training | Federal pass-through funding significant |
| Department of Corrections (DOC) | Facilities, healthcare services, food service | Long contract terms common |
| State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) | Construction, IT, professional services | Universities procure individually |
| Liquor Control Board (PLCB) | Wholesale liquor purchasing | One of the largest single-buyer liquor markets in the U.S. |
COSTARS is the simplest way to sell into many of these local entities, since participating members can buy off COSTARS contracts without running their own competitions.
Pennsylvania protests are governed by the Commonwealth Procurement Code. Protests must be filed within 7 days of when the protester knew or should have known the facts giving rise to it. Protest review by the agency head and possible appeal to Commonwealth Court. The 7-day window is among the shorter state protest windows; track award announcements actively if a protest is plausible.