Selling to the State of Illinois

How a company registers as a supplier with the State of Illinois, the state's certification programs, and where to get help in Illinois, with the official sources. Federal registrations such as SAM.gov are in the federal guides.

BidBuy (General Services eProcurement system), used with the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG)

How to register

1. 1Check whether the business already has an Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) account. Open the IPG (ipg.illinois.gov), click Account Lookup, and search by Tax ID Number. Pathway to Procurement says to use an existing account, including one set up with another entity on the same software, such as the City of Chicago.
2. 2If there is no account, click Vendor Registration, then Create Account under Option 1. The email address becomes the user name.
3. 3Gather these items before starting, according to the IPG FAQs on Pathway to Procurement: Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number (SSN); Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Public Contract Number (required with 15 or more employees); Illinois State Board of Elections registration number; authorization to do business in Illinois from the Secretary of State; names of company owners; and company financial information. The IPG Quick Start Guide adds that a business already certified in an Illinois program (Business Enterprise Program, Veterans Business Program or Small Business Set-Aside Program) attaches that program's approval letter showing a future expiration or renewal date.
4. 4Complete and submit the IPG application. The Chief Procurement Office reviews it. After approval, the vendor gets an IPG registration number that can replace certain paper forms in bids. The About the IPG page says there is no cost to vendors to register. The IPG FAQs say an approved registration is valid for one year.
5. 5Sign in to BidBuy (bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso). BidBuy says an account is created automatically for IPG-registered businesses, that it can take 24-48 hours to appear after a new IPG registration, and that there is no charge for vendors to register. The BidBuy IPG Vendor Manual says IPG vendors receive an email with a sign-in ID and temporary password. All other information comes over from IPG except eight category questions; two are required (Federal Tax Classification and Information Certification). Then add NIGP commodity codes (the product and service codes BidBuy uses).
6. 6Register on other volumes of the Illinois Procurement Bulletin as needed. Each of the four Chief Procurement Officers publishes one (General Services uses BidBuy; also Capital Development Board, Department of Transportation and Higher Education). Pathway to Procurement says firms must prequalify before bidding with the Capital Development Board (CDB) or the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
7. 7Read the political contribution rules. Pathway to Procurement points vendors to Section 50-37 of the Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/50-37).

• Business Enterprise Program (BEP) certificationIllinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI)Businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by minorities, women or persons with disabilities, whose owner is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, with annual gross sales under $150 million (per CEI). CEI says certification is free, typically takes 60 days after a complete application, and is valid for seven years with a notarized No Change Affidavit each year. Apply through CEI's certification and compliance portal.
• Veterans Business Program (VBP) certificationIllinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI)Veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses: at least 51% owned by one or more qualified veterans or service-disabled veterans living in Illinois, with a DD214, annual gross sales under $150 million and a home office in Illinois (per CEI). Full certification is valid five years with an annual No Change Affidavit. CEI also accepts 'recognition' of SBA Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert), Cook County and City of Chicago veteran certifications, valid one year.
• Small Business Set-Aside Program (SBSP)Illinois Chief Procurement Offices (Small Business Specialist, EEC.SmallBusiness@illinois.gov)Illinois small businesses. Pathway to Procurement lists these limits: annual gross sales of $13 million or less (wholesale), $8 million or less (retail or services), $14 million or less (construction), or 250 employees or fewer (manufacturing). When a purchase is set aside, only certified SBSP vendors are considered. Sign up in Section C of the IPG registration; the IPG Quick Start Guide says to upload tax documents for the business and any affiliated businesses.
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification (Illinois Unified Certification Program)Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Bureau of Small Business EnterprisesFor-profit small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, for federally funded transportation contracts (49 CFR Part 26). IDOT asks for the Uniform Certification Application, a Personal Net Worth Statement, a Personal Narrative (required under the USDOT Interim Final Rule of October 3, 2025) and a Work Category and Location document, mailed to IDOT in Springfield. IDOT says average processing is 90 days.

• APEX AcceleratorIllinois APEX Accelerator (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with local centers statewide)APEX Accelerator website
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) NetworkSBDC website
• Economic developmentIllinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)Economic development agency website

• Where to startThe order: the basics, codes and size, SAM.gov, certifications, drone rules, documents, where to sell, and free and low-cost help.
• SAM.gov registrationThe federal government's free registration for companies that want federal contracts: the Unique Entity ID, the CAGE code and the yearly renewal.
• Codes and profilesNAICS and PSC codes, SBA size standards, CAGE and NCAGE codes, and the SBA Small Business Search profile buyers search.
• SBA certificationsThe SBA's 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned (WOSB and EDWOSB) and veteran-owned (VetCert) programs: who each is for and how to apply.
• Drone complianceThe rules for selling drones to government and flying them: NDAA and the American Security Drone Act, Blue UAS, the FCC, FAA Part 107, ITAR, EAR and CMMC.
• Documents to prepareWhat government buyers, SBA lenders, SBIR and STTR programs and investors ask to see.
• Selling to federal buyersWhere federal contracts, subcontracts and research funding are posted: SAM.gov, primes, the GSA schedule, SBIR and STTR, DIU, AFWERX, the Army, the Navy, SOFWERX and DHS.
• Utilities and public buyersUtilities, HUD-funded agencies, state transportation departments, cities and counties, and cooperative contracts such as Sourcewell and NASPO ValuePoint.
• Free and low-cost helpAPEX Accelerators, SBDCs, SBA district offices, SCORE, veterans' and women's business centers, MEP centers and agency small business offices.

• Pathway to Procurement: New Vendor - Welcome to Illinois!
• Pathway to Procurement: Final Steps
• Pathway to Procurement: IPG Getting Started
• Pathway to Procurement: IPG Create An Account
• Pathway to Procurement: About the IPG
• Pathway to Procurement: IPG FAQs and Forms
• Pathway to Procurement: IPG Quick Start Guide (PDF)
• Pathway to Procurement: BidBuy
• BidBuy home and sign-in
• BidBuy IPG Vendor Manual
• Pathway to Procurement: Procurement Programs
• CEI Business Enterprise Program
• CEI BEP Certification
• CEI Veterans Business Program
• CEI VBP Certification
• IDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• IDOT DBE Certification
• IDOT Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• DCEO: Illinois APEX Accelerator
• Illinois SBDC: About Us
• Illinois DCEO home

Last checked September 25, 2026. Rules, fees and programs change; the official sources are where to confirm them before applying or spending money.

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