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)
NOTE: APPLICANTS MAY APPLY TO BE CERTIFIED IN BOTH THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM AND VETERANS BUSINESS PROGRAM AT THE SAME TIME SUBJECT TO PUBLIC ACT 98-0307 EFFECTIVE AUG. 12, 2013.
Choice One:
Complete the Veterans Business Program (VBP) Certification Application
To continue your current annual VEP Certification, Complete the No Change Affidavit (NCA) Renewal Application 
(Applies ONLY to fully-certified current VBP businesses).
OR
Choice Two:
If you are currently certified with at least one of the entities listed below, complete the Vet Recognition Certification Affidavit :
* Cook County (Veteran / Service Disable Veteran Business Enterprise)
* United States Department of Veteran Affairs - Center for Veteran Enterprise (CVE) VOSD/SDVOSB
Mail to:
State of Illinois
Department of Central Management Services
Veteran Business Program (VBP)
100 W. Randolph, Suite 4-100
Chicago, IL 60601
Step 3: Apply for the Small 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.
Send Step 3 forms (Small Business Application Form & Federal Taxpayer W-9 Form and any required documentation)
Mail to:
Chief Procurement Office
401 South Spring Street
Suite 515 Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Call the Help Desk at 1-866-ILL-BUYS (1-866-455-2897) or e-mail webmaster@purchase.state.il.us