From:
Michael B. Bass, Special Advisor to the President and Deputy Comptroller
Mike Wilson, Assistant Vice President, Capital Programs and Utility Services
Sharla Roberts, Director Office of Procurement Diversity
Subject:
Notice of Diversity Goals Change on University of Illinois Capital Contracts
Date:
June 15, 2020
NOTICE OF DIVERSITY GOALS CHANGE ON UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CAPITAL CONTRACTS
The University of Illinois System continues to support and promote use of Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Program (VBP) certified vendors on all capital projects and is committed to vendor diversification by ensuring that diverse businesses are included in the University procurement process. It is also the public policy of the State of Illinois to promote and encourage the continuing economic development of minority, women, and persons with disabilities owned businesses and are provided the opportunity to participate in the State's procurement process to provide commercially useful functions as both prime and subconsultants/subcontractors. This commitment extends to veteran-owned businesses also.
Beginning August, 2021 capital professional service and construction service BEP certified vendor participation goals will increase as well as the addition of construction VBP certified vendor participation goals to construction services. The following table shows revised limits for the University of Illinois System for all capital projects:
|
Type of Contract
|
BEP Goal -
MBE, WBE, PBE
Combined
|
VBP Goal -
VOSB or SDVOSB
|
|
Professional Services
|
30%
|
3%
|
|
Construction Services
|
30%
|
3%
|
The Illinois CMS BEP/VBP Registered Vendor Directories can be found at https://cms.diversitycompliance.com/ and will identify potential BEP/VBP certified vendors to meet the new these new professional services and construction goals. Additionally, Dale Morrison with the Office of Procurement Diversity can assist in identifying certified firms and answer diversity related questions. He can be reached at dmorrisj@uillinois.edu.
I hope you take advantage of this advanced notice to BEP and VBP goals to foster even more relations with potential vendors that fulfill these certification criteria to meet or exceed the University's aspirational goals.