- 1). Register for the Illinois Procurement Bulletin (IPB). You will receive regular emails about new contracts, contract awards and addendums from the IPB. Go to the IPB homepage and click "Registration." Select "Register" on the left side of the page, and read all the information and disclaimers. Click "Continue" and complete the form. Select a class code from the list for specific goods or services you want to provide the state.
- 2). Fill out the Employer Report Form for an IDHR number with the Illinois Department of Human Rights if your company has more than 15 employees. Your company must have a sexual harassment policy to be eligible for state contracts if you have more than 15 employees during the fiscal year of the state contract acquisition or bidding. If your company has several locations, but one FEIN, you only have to pay one $75 fee. Payments are made to the Illinois Department of Human Rights and should be submitted along with the completed form to the IDHR -- Fiscal Unit. This number is good for five years, and will then have to be renewed for $75. (Fees were as 2011).
- 3). Apply for the Small Business Set-Aside Program if you are eligible. Illinois awards contracts less than $50,000 to small businesses. If your gross sales are less than $6 million in retail or services or less than $10 million in wholesale, construction and manufacturing, and you have fewer than 250 employees and your business is located in Illinois, you are eligible for the Small Business Set-Aside Program. This program enables you to depend on a steady income from the state to supplement your existing sales.
- 4). Apply for the Businesses Enterprise Program (BEP). Eligible businesses must be 51 percent owned by a minority, woman or disabled person. Owners must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien and have less than $75 million in annual sales. This program encourages state agencies and universities to spend at least 20 percent of their budgets with BEP companies, and you will receive a larger number of solicitations.
- 5). Fill out the Certificate of Authority for Out-of-State Vendors if your business is outside the state.
- 6). Review the solicitations from the IPB regularly and bid on those for which you are qualified. Submit your bid to the address listed on the solicitation so that it arrives prior to the bid opening date. You will be notified via email if you won the bid.
- 7). Send a representative of your business to the bid session if you desire. The bid location and time will be listed on the solicitation.
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