JPMC Casual Footwear

The State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) Bureau of Strategic Sourcing (BOSS) is conducting a Joint Purchase Master Contract (JPMC) solicitation for casual footwear, with Invitation for Bid (IFB) reference number B-49280. The procurement aims to establish a contract enabling governmental units and qualified not-for-profit agencies to purchase various types of casual footwear, including athletic shoes, casual shoes, and orthopedic support footwear, on an as-needed basis. Bidders must submit their proposals electronically through BidBuy by October 8, 2025, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for September 23, 2025, at 11:00 am CST via Webex Video Meeting. The state intends to award a single contract to the lowest-priced responsive and responsible bidder, with the potential to award by line item. Vendors must comply with specific submission requirements, including vendor disclosures, utilization plans, and other mandatory attachments. The contract will have an initial term of four years, with a maximum total term not exceeding ten years, and requires a minimum order of $750 per purchase.

The procurement includes a 6% Business Enterprise Program (BEP) goal for minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses, with a strong emphasis on supporting diverse vendors. Certified firms must be listed in the BEP Certified Vendor List, which includes women-owned businesses (WBE), minority-owned businesses (MBE), service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOSB), and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB). The state has an aspirational goal of awarding at least 30% of the total contract value to certified diverse businesses. Vendors must either meet the contract-specific diversity goals through self-performance or certified subcontractors, or demonstrate Good Faith Efforts (GFE) to achieve these goals. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the contract allows for product substitutions with CMS BOSS approval and requires vendors to provide reporting on contract usage, veteran hiring, and payments to subcontractors. Pricing will remain firm for the first year, with potential upward price adjustments allowed once per 12-month period based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index for rubber and plastics footwear. The contract is contingent on the availability of appropriations, with the State reserving the right to terminate or suspend the contract if sufficient funds are not available.