Illinois DCEO Loan System RFP

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), acting on behalf of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), is seeking proposals for a comprehensive Software as a Service (SaaS) loan management solution designed to support multiple DCEO divisions and loan programs. The procurement seeks a cloud-hosted, end-to-end system capable of managing complex loan processes for programs like Advantage Illinois and the Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program. Key deliverables include a customizable off-the-shelf (COTS) solution with robust functionality for customer relationship management, application intake, workflow management, document storage, reporting, and integration capabilities with state systems such as SAP and OKTA. The project will be implemented in eight phases over nine months, with an anticipated contract start date of January 1, 2026, and an initial contract term of ten years. Critical proposal dates include an RFP posting on August 1, 2025, a pre-submission conference on August 12, 2025, a proposal submission deadline of September 5, 2025, and an anticipated award date of October 31, 2025. Vendors must provide a comprehensive solution that supports loan management for small businesses, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and cannabis social equity licensees, with strict compliance requirements for state and federal accessibility and security standards.

The procurement emphasizes significant diversity and inclusion requirements, with a strong focus on Business Enterprise Program (BEP) participation and vendor commitment to diversity. The state has established an aspirational goal of awarding at least 20% of contract dollars to businesses certified as owned and controlled by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, with an additional 3% goal for service-disabled veteran-owned and veteran-owned small businesses. Vendors must complete a detailed Commitment to Diversity (C2D) Vendor Answer Sheet, which comprises 20% of the technical scoring and evaluates businesses across six key categories: BEP goal compliance, subcontracting with women and minority-owned businesses, diversity spending, DEI time investment, DEI policies, and workforce diversity. Specific cloud hosting requirements mandate extensive security protocols, including immediate breach notification, annual third-party security audits, data encryption, and compliance with Illinois Enterprise Security Policies. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the complexity of the system and multi-year contract suggest a substantial investment. Vendors must also complete comprehensive vendor disclosure forms, demonstrating financial transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and compliance with state procurement regulations.