Provider Content

The Process

RCOC believes that the people we serve benefit greatly when new individuals and organizations step up to provide the critical services and supports they need to live safely and with dignity in our community. We also believe that well-qualified service providers and well-trained direct care staff are essential to realizing the Lanterman Act vision of community inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The purpose of this section is to explain the process of becoming “vendorized” – or approved to provide services to RCOC persons served – and to share RCOC’s policies for ensuring that service provider selection is fair, equitable, and places the critical needs of the people we serve first.

An applicant and/or a vendor should not initiate services for an individual before an approved authorization to purchase the services has been received from RCOC.

Vendorization

“Vendorization” is an application process for a qualified person, program or facility to request approval by the State of California, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to provide services to regional center persons served, and to receive a rate of reimbursement for the provision of such services. The rate of reimbursement for services is established by the State of California.

Pursuant to Title 17 of the CCR section 54322(d)(10), vendorization does not guarantee that individuals will be referred or placed with a vendored provider.

If you provide services before being vendored you will not be paid for those services.

Vendorization is not a guarantee that the vendor will automatically receive referrals from the regional center – it simply means that the vendor is eligible to provide the vendored service for regional center persons served at the vendored rate of reimbursement.  All services purchased by RCOC must receive prior authorization for funding and must be designed to assist an individual to meet the goals and objectives identified in their IPP.

Orientation for Prospective Service Providers

RCOC conducts Pre-Vendor Orientation classes throughout the year. These classes are open to anyone interested in participating. They offer information on the vendorization process as well as RCOC’s expectations for service providers. For information and dates of upcoming classes, check our Events Calendar or call our Vendor Hotline at (714) 796-5263.

Vendorization Rollout in Provider Directory

Beginning December 19, 2025, Regional Center of Orange County will begin using the Provider Directory for new vendorizations as follows:

Contact vendorization@rcocdd.com for guidance on how to begin your application between December 19, 2025 and March 1, 2026.

Effective on and after July 1, 2026, Purchase Reimbursement (Service Code 024) vendorization applications must be completed in the Provider Directory.

How to Become a Service Provider/Vendor

Service providers must be vendored by a regional center before they can provide and be reimbursed for services. The following describes how to become a vendored service provider.

What is Vendorization?

“Vendorization” is the term used to describe the approval process to provide services through regional centers to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You apply for vendorization online through the Provider Directory. This is where you will submit required information and documents, communicate with regional centers, and track your progress.

Your application will be reviewed by the vendoring regional center – the center responsible for the geographic area (also known as catchment area) where your site-based service or operating office is located. The regional center will review your documents and determine if you meet the requirements. If approved, you’ll be assigned a vendor number and a service code in the Provider Directory.

Who Can Apply?

• Potential New Providers: People or agencies who want to start offering services and supports to Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Existing Providers: Providers who want to add new services or expand to new areas.
• Family Members or Guardians: People supporting individuals through the provision of specific services agreed upon by the individual program plan team.

Who Cannot Apply in the Directory?

Entities seeking to provide service to individuals in the Self-Determination Program cannot apply in the Provider Directory, except for Financial Management Services (FMS) service codes 315-317.

When should you apply for vendorization in the Directory?

Applicants can start a vendorization application at any time.

However, if applying for an emergency vendorization or applying for vendorization of certain specialized facilities through the Community Placement Plan (CPP) or Community Resource Development Plan (CRDP) project, contact Regional Center of Orange County to learn how to begin your application process and when to create your login profile to apply in the Provider Directory.

How can I prepare?

You must determine what service type you are planning to provide and understand applicable statutes, regulations and directives issued by the Department of Developmental Services based on your experience and expertise. The Department of Developmental Services is governed by Title 17 Division 2 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). Vendorization is governed by Title 17, Division 2, Chapter 3, Subchapter 2.

These rules explain:

• What services regional centers can fund
• What providers must do to qualify
• How the vendorization process works
• What is required to maintain your vendorization
• The commonly used terms you need to know

To learn more about services offered through regional centers, visit the Regional Center Services and Descriptions webpage on the Department of Developmental Services’ website.

What services are needed?

• Review current Requests for Proposals
• Contact our team via email at vendorization@rcocdd.com for information about RCOC current service needs.

What are the steps to apply?

Exhibit 1: Vendorization application steps and processing time requirements

The vendorization process is done online through the Provider Directory. Here’s what to expect:

Step 1: Create or login to existing Provider Directory Profile

• Open browser and type https://caddsprod.servicenowservices.com/spd
• If your business is new to the Provider Directory, create login profile.
• If your business is in the Provider Directory, login with existing credentials.

Step 2: Submit requirements

• Submit information to show you meet the minimum requirements.
• The regional center will review your request within 15 calendar days.

Step 3: Submit application

• If you meet the basic requirements, you’ll be asked to submit additional information and documents to support your application.
• When all requested information is received, the regional center will review your application for completeness within 30 calendar days.
• If anything is missing or incorrect, you’ll have 30 calendar days to submit it. The submission review timeline/clock pauses for the regional center during this time and does not reset.

Step 4: Receive decision

• When the application is complete, the regional center will review the application
• The regional center will make a vendorization decision within 45 calendar days.
• If approved, you’ll receive a vendor number.
• If not approved, you’ll receive a denial notice with rights to appeal the decision.

Who Can Use Vendored Providers?

Once vendored, a service provider may be utilized by other regional centers, known as “user” or “utilizing” regional centers, as well as the originally vendoring regional center.

NOTE: The vendor identification number assigned by the vendoring regional center must be used by all regional centers purchasing the vendored service.

Do you need help?

For on-demand resources, such as step-by-step guides, FAQs, and an overview of the vendorization process, go to the DDS How to Become a Vendor web page.

If you have questions or need help with the process, contact us at vendorization@rcocdd.com or 714-796-5317. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Important Note About Vendorization

Pursuant to Title 17 of the CCR section 54322(d)(10), vendorization does not guarantee that individuals will be referred or placed with a vendored provider.

If you are interested in being vendored, send an email to the appropriate contact on the Vendorization Request Form.

Additional information about the laws and regulations governing vendorization and the requirements for service providers is available in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, and the Lanterman Act.

Referral Process for Persons Served by RCOC

The Lanterman Act requires regional centers to develop and implement an Individual Program Plan (IPP) for each eligible person served.  Services and supports designed to assist the individual to reach the goals and objectives identified in their IPP are obtained from natural, generic, and community resources. When services are not available, the regional center has the responsibility to advocate for the development of needed services.

When there is no public agency available to provide a service identified in the IPP, the regional center may purchase the service from a vendor.  Vendor selection is a thoughtful process, involving a review of an individual’s needs and abilities, types of service, geographic location, person served/family choice, related service needs, quality, availability, cost-effectiveness, ability to assist the person served to meet the goals and objectives identified in the IPP, and many other factors.