Technology companies pursuing government contracts in Puerto Rico face a compliance requirement that catches many off guard: a single registration is not enough. A tech firm must be registered in two separate databases before any government entity can contract with it — one administered by the General Services Administration (ASG) and one administered by the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS). Both are accessed through ASG's centralized portal, Mi ASG, at asg.pr.gov/miasg. Getting one without the other leaves a company ineligible, regardless of its qualifications.
The ASG Registration: RUP
The starting point for any tech professional services provider is the Registro Único de Proveedores de Servicios Profesionales (RUP), administered by ASG under Law 73-2019. The RUP is the mandatory registry for any individual or entity seeking to provide professional services to the Government of Puerto Rico, its exempt entities, or participating municipalities. Software development, cybersecurity, and AI implementation fall within the professional services category — meaning they require RUP registration and are exempt from competitive bidding. Basic IT support, telecommunications, and call centers, by contrast, are classified as non-professional services and follow a different contracting pathway through the Registro Único de Licitadores (RUL).
A valid RUP Certificate of Eligibility confirms that the provider has met ASG's documentation requirements and is authorized to be contracted directly by government agencies. Annual fees are $200 for corporations and legal entities and $100 for individuals. The full documentation requirements for corporations, individuals, and foreign entities are detailed in our separate guide: Understanding the RUP.
The PRITS Registration: RPT
The RUP alone is not sufficient for technology work. PRITS — the agency responsible under Law 75-2019 for overseeing and approving all technology acquisitions across Puerto Rico's executive branch — maintains the Registro de Proveedores de Tecnología (RPT), the official database that qualifies any company or professional seeking to supply hardware, software, or technology services to the Government of Puerto Rico. Registration in the RPT is required for any tech-related government engagement, and the RUP Certificate of Eligibility is a prerequisite for RPT registration. The sequencing matters: RUP first, RPT second.
Under PRITS Administrative Order 2023-001, every government agency must obtain PRITS approval before acquiring any technology good or service — the criterion is the nature of the acquisition, not its dollar amount. A vendor not registered in the RPT cannot be engaged by any executive branch agency, regardless of how small or straightforward the engagement.
RPT registration is completed through ASG's Mi ASG portal at asg.pr.gov/miasg.
Other Registries on the Mi ASG Portal
Tech companies should be aware that Mi ASG consolidates several other government registries in one place, including the RUS (Registro Único de Subastas), which is the platform where formal government bids are published, and the RPC (Registro de Profesionales Certificados), which covers attorneys, CPAs, and agronomists operating under Act 60-2019 decrees. Neither the RUS nor the RPC is a prerequisite for standard technology contracting, but companies operating across multiple service lines should confirm which registries apply to their specific scope of work.
Why the Sequence Matters
The practical consequence for a tech company entering the Puerto Rico government market is that compliance is a two-registry process with a fixed order. The RUP establishes professional eligibility and exemption from competitive bidding. The RPT establishes PRITS-level authorization, which is the gateway to actual engagement with any executive branch agency. A company that skips either step — or completes them out of order — will find itself unable to be contracted even if informally selected or already in conversation with a specific agency.
Companies already registered in the RUP that have not yet completed their RPT registration should treat it as an immediate next step.
How We Can Help
MZLS assists technology companies and professional services providers in navigating registration requirements, contract classification, and compliance obligations under Puerto Rico's government procurement framework.
Questions?Mabel Sotomayor, Director of Public Law Practice | msotomayor@mzls.com
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
