Veteran-owned Businesses 

Through the Veterans Business Program (VBP), state agencies and universities are encouraged to spend at least 3% of their procurement budgets with certified Veteran-owned businesses.

Who qualifies?

Illinois businesses with annual gross sales under $75 million that are 51% owned by one or more qualified service-disabled veterans or qualified veterans living in Illinois. 

How do you register?

Step 1: Register to receive procurement opportunities with the State of Illinois

Register to electronically receive email notifications and download postings from the Illinois Procurement Bulletin. Each employee of a company must individually register. Go to Illinois Procurement Bulletin Registration.

• Employees of companies can individually register on the IPB to electronically (via email) receive and download postings.
• Employees of companies can identify area(s) of commerce for their business, by selecting specific commodity/service class code(s) to receive e-mail for any procurement activity in their designated class code(s).
• Employees of companies can chose the type of postings to receive by indicating either Both, Solicitation Only, Notices Only or None.
• Employees will only receive e-mail notifications under the class code(s) they designate and the types of notifications selected.

Call the Help Desk at 1-866-ILL-BUYS (1-866-455-2897) or e-mail webmaster@purchase.state.il.us

Step 2: Apply for  the Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) \ Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)

• Complete the  Veterans Business Program (VBP) Certification Application

Step 3: Apply for the Small and Diverse Business Programs

To apply for the Small Business Set-Aside Program (SBSP) and/or to enroll to the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) complete the following forms. You can participate in both programs if you meet each program’s requirements.

• Required: Small & Diverse Business Application Form [PDF, 356KB]
• This list of commodities classifications/services codes must be used will help you to identify the proper supply commodity/service codes to enter for #9 on Page 4 of the Business Application Form.
• REQUIRED: Federal Taxpayer ID number - W-9 Form [PDF, 72 KB]
• REQUIRED if you have 15+ Employees: Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Employers Report Form to be submitted to IDHR address listed on form
  NOTE: You must obtain an IDHR number prior to submitting a Small & Diverse Business Application Form if applicable to your company.

Send Step 3 forms (Small & Diverse Business Application Form & Federal Taxpayer W-9 Form and any required documentation)

To:

State of Illinois
Department of Central Management Services
Bureau of Strategic Sourcing
401 South Spring Street
William G. Stratton Building/Room 801
Springfield, IL 62706-0002