The Bureau of Public Procurement [BPP] maintains a national database for the registration, categorisation and classification of Federal Government contractors, consultants and service providers.

The database contains information on companies that are already doing business with, or intend to do business with, the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Both indigenous and foreign owned companies seeking to participate in Federal Government contracts may register on the BPP platform, subject to the applicable requirements.

Who Should Register?

BPP registration is relevant to companies operating as:

Contractors;
Consultants; and
Service providers that intend to participate in procurement opportunities with the Federal Government.

The BPP database enables government procuring entities to obtain information about registered companies and assess their capacity to undertake particular contracts.

How to Register

The registration process begins with the creation of an account on the BPP platform.

The company will provide basic information such as:

Company name;
CAC registration number;
Company type;
Email address;
Telephone number;
Company website, where applicable; and
username and password.

After creating an account, the company will complete its registration by providing the required information and uploading the relevant documents.

Documents and Information Required

Depending on the nature and category of the business, the company may be required to provide:

CAC incorporation and registration documents;
CAC registration number;
Nigeria Revenue Service [NRS] Tax Identification Number;
Company address and contact details;
PENCOM compliance certificate, where applicable;
ITF compliance certificate, where applicable;
NSITF registration or compliance information, where applicable;
Details of the board of directors;
Group company details, where the company is a subsidiary;
Business category;
Professional regulatory body information, where applicable to service companies;
Manufacturer representation details, where applicable to companies in the goods category;
Construction equipment list, where applicable to companies in the works category;
Financial capacity;
Key human resources;
Details of completed projects; and
Other documents or information as may be required by the BPP.

Note on Statutory Compliance

Not every company will be required to provide every compliance certificate. The applicable requirements may depend on the size, workforce and nature of the company's business.

For example, companies with fewer than 15 employees may not be required to make pension contributions and may therefore not require a PENCOM compliance certificate.

Similarly, companies with fewer than five employees, or companies below the applicable ₦50 million annual turnover threshold, may not be required to make ITF contributions and may therefore not require an ITF compliance certificate.

The applicable NSITF requirements will also depend on the company's circumstances.

Companies should therefore determine their specific statutory compliance obligations before commencing the registration process.

Verification and Classification

After the registration is completed, the information and documents submitted by the company are subjected to verification.

The BPP then categorises and classifies the company based on factors such as:

Financial capacity;
Experience;
Human resources;
Equipment;
Technical capacity; and
Ability to deliver contracts.

This classification helps to establish the company's capacity and competence in relation to the category of contracts for which it seeks to participate.

Why Applications May Be Rejected

Applications may be rejected or delayed where there are problems with the information or documents submitted. Common issues include:

Inconsistent information

Details in the application do not match the company's incorporation documents, statutory records or other supporting documents.

False declaration

The company provides information that is false, misleading or cannot be verified.

Incorrect document uploads

The wrong documents are uploaded, documents are incomplete, or documents are uploaded under the wrong category.

Companies should therefore carefully review their corporate records and supporting documents before submitting their applications.

Conclusion

BPP registration is an important requirement for contractors, consultants and service providers seeking to participate in Federal Government procurement opportunities.

Successful registration is not simply about uploading documents. The information provided must be accurate, consistent and verifiable, while the company's statutory compliance and capacity should be properly presented.

A properly completed BPP registration allows the company's relevant corporate, financial, technical and operational information to be assessed for appropriate categorisation and classification.