23-0107 BEP U Plan v.25.1-ITS Parts Replacement.pdf

This document is a Utilization Plan from the State of Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion for the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), Version 25.1, specifically focused on achieving participation goals for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in state contracts. The plan outlines comprehensive requirements for vendors bidding on state contracts, mandating that they demonstrate good faith efforts to include certified Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Program (VBP) vendors in their proposals. The document provides detailed guidelines for how vendors must document their efforts to meet contract-specific goals, including locating certified vendors, soliciting quotes, negotiating in good faith, and maintaining records of their outreach.

The utilization plan establishes aspirational goals under the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act, which aims to award at least 30% of total state contract dollars to businesses owned and controlled by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. For service-disabled veteran-owned and veteran-owned small businesses, the goal is to award at least 3% of the total contract dollar amount. Vendors must submit a comprehensive Utilization Plan (U-Plan) that demonstrates how they will meet these goals, either through self-performance, subcontracting with certified vendors, or making documented good faith efforts. The plan includes provisions for waivers, substitutions of vendors, compliance monitoring, and potential contract remedies if vendors fail to meet their committed participation levels.