Suppliers

A supplier (or vendor) is an individual or organization that provides goods or raw materials, components, or services to another entity, typically a company or government agency (the buyer).

Suppliers form a critical link in the supply chain, ensuring that the buyer has the necessary inputs to run their operations, manufacture their own products, or fulfill their own contracts. In the context of government contracting, suppliers are often referred to as prime contractors (if they sell directly to the government) or subcontractors (if they sell to a prime contractor).