Before Using the Illinois Higher Ed Bulletin
While you can start using the Bulletin before completing these steps you will not be able to submit any bids. Therefore, vendors are strongly encouraged to complete all relevant steps before starting to use the Bulletin.
1. Be a legal entity authorized to do business in Illinois
Vendors must exist as a legal business prior to submitting the bid, offer, or proposal and must be authorized to transact business in Illinois prior to execution of the contract. The most common way to be authorized is to register with the Illinois Secretary of State. (30 ILCS 500/20-43).
2. Register with the Illinois State Board of Elections
Vendors who have $50,000 or more in any combination, or individual category of pending or current bids, proposals or contracts with the State of Illinois are required to register with the State Board of Elections. Vendors have a continuing obligation to always keep the registration information up to date. (30 ILCS 500/20-160)
3. Hold a current Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Bidder Eligibility Number
Vendors must register with the Department of Human Rights and obtain a public contracts number prior to the date of the solicitation opening, if a competitive solicitation is used, or prior to contract award in all other instances. This applies to vendors employing 15 or more individuals at any time during the 365-day period immediately preceding the date of filing with the Department of Human Rights. (44 Ill. Adm. 750.210)
4. Register with the Illinois Procurement Gateway (Optional, Required to E-bid)
E-bidding allows you to respond to solicitations and submit bids electronically through the Bulletin, rather than through the mail or in person. To use the e-bidding feature on the Bulletin, a vendor must have an Illinois Procurement Bulletin account, be registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG), and hold an IPG registration number that is in good standing. Once you have registered with the IPG you can then register for e-bidding in the My Account section of the Bulletin.
Register with the Illinois Procurement Gateway | Learn more about e-bidding
5. Register for relevant supplier diversity and other business programs (if applicable)
If your business is a small business, minority-, woman-, person with disabilities-, veteran-, or service-disabled veteran-owned business, you are encouraged to investigate if you qualify for any of the procurement programs available for businesses in Illinois.
Learn more about the supplier diversity and other business programs