Resources

Public Act 99-0767 encourages and expands construction opportunities for female-owned, minority- owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises, while ensuring hospitals have flexibility and clear guidance on any new reporting requirements.

Here are definitions and resources for hospital leaders as they work to comply with the law.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises

Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest in these for-profit small businesses and control management and daily business operations. African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. Other individuals can also qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis.

Business Enterprise Program

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services Business Enterprise Program (BEP) promotes the economic development of businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities. Businesses do not need to be certified with BEP as a minority-owned business, female-owned business or disabled-person owned business to bid on state contracts. Any qualified business can bid for contracts posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin. BEP certification is specifically for diverse businesses to compete as sub-contractors.

You can find registered BEP vendors, small business vendors and veteran-owned small businesses/service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB/SDVOSB) vendors on the State of Illinois website. Search by vendor, commodity (service) code or commodity name across the state or by region. Other search criteria for the state directories include county, gender, ethnicity and BEP certification code.

Cook County Directory

Cook County has its own M/W/VBE Certification Directory of businesses. 

How to Find Eligible Businesses

Organizations that identify or certify eligible businesses include the following agencies and programs:

• Cook County Diversity Management System
• City of Chicago Diversity Management System
• Chicago Minority Business Development Council
• Women’s Business Development Center
• State of Illinois – Department of Central Management Services Business Enterprise Program
• State of Illinois – Department of Central Management Services Veteran-Owned Businesses
• State of Illinois – Department of Central Management Services Small Business Enterprise Program
• National Minority Supplier Development Council Affiliates
• Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program

Learn more about the hospital supplier diversity requirements of PA 99-0767.