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Certification Overview

The Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion’s (CEI) Business Enterprise Program (BEP) certification process underscores Illinois' unwavering dedication to fostering opportunities and inclusion for businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. 

Requirements

CEI’s BEP certification unit certifies minority-owned, women-owned, and persons-with-disabilities-owned businesses meeting the following requirements:

1.       Have at least 51% ownership by a minority, woman, or person with a disability.

2.       Have at least 51% of their business controlled by one or more minority groups, women, or persons with a disability.

3.       The owner must be a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident alien.

4.       Have annual gross sales of less than $150 million.

Benefits of Becoming Certified

Unlock the benefits of certification! By becoming BEP-certified, you gain access to a host of benefits. Your business will be featured in CEI’s public online directory, ensuring visibility amongst State procurement professionals and potential prime vendors. The BEP certification is recognized by various municipalities and organizations, aligning with their supplier diversity initiatives. Best of all, certification is FREE!

To start, complete your certification application via CEI’s certification and compliance portal here. Select the ‘Apply for BEP and/or VBP Certification’ option to begin the process. It’s that easy!

Already Certified?

If you are already a BEP-certified vendor and want more information about taking the next steps to maximize your BEP certification, please click here! 

BEP Certification Types

CEI offers several BEP certification opportunities. Please see the various BEP certification types below.

Full BEP Certification

The full BEP Certification type is valid for seven years for qualifying businesses. The BEP certification unit typically takes 60 days to determine certification status after receiving a complete application, including all the required documentation from the vendor.

Please see the Certification Application Checklist for a list of the required documentation. 

No Change Affidavits

Vendors must file No Change Affidavits (NCA) to maintain their certification each year following the initial certification. A NCA allows a vendor to attest that there were no changes in ownership, control, management, or gross sales. All BEP-certified vendors with the Full BEP Certification must update business information and submit a signed and notarized NCA (along with a current business license and tax return) to the BEP certification unit for review and approval. CEI’s certification and compliance portal will send three notices 90, 60, and 30 days before each NCA is due.  

Please see the No Change Affidavit Application Certification Checklist for a list of the required documentation.

Recognition Certifications

CEI allows vendors to request recognition of their certification from one of the State’s partners. Below, you will find the different recognition certification programs that are available. The application process for these programs has been scaled down from the full BEP Certification process. 

Be Enrolled Business Enterprise Certification (BE BEP)

The Be Enrolled Business Enterprise Certification (BE BEP) allows vendors certified by one of the partner organizations listed below to apply for BEP certification. The BE BEP application typically takes seven business days to process. 

The duration and commodity codes for the newly activated BE BEP Certification will match the existing certification held with the host agency. CEI will activate the vendor’s BE BEP Certification based on the host agency’s diversity certification. If applicable, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes provided by the host agency will be translated to National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) commodity codes using CEI's crosswalk.

The BE BEP partners include:

·       Cook County

·       City of Chicago

·       Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

·       Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

·       METRA

·       PACE

Businesses must maintain their certification and comply with the rules of their host agency to maintain an active BE BEP certification. If the host agency’s certification expires or the host agency suspends a vendor’s bidding privileges, then the BE BEP Certification will also expire or be suspended.

BE BEP-certified vendors are encouraged to notify the BEP certification unit within two weeks if any of the following changes occur:

·       Ownership changes.

·       Changes in control.

·       Changes in the host agency’s certification status.

Businesses certified through BE BEP will be listed in CEI’s certified vendor directory. 

Please see the BE BEP Certification Checklist for a list of the required documentation. 

Renewal of the BE BEP Certification

Your BE BEP Certification term will mirror your host agency’s. Therefore, renewal is predicated on vendors renewing with their host agency. The BEP certification unit will notify BE BEP vendors via the certification and compliance portal three times. Renewal notices will be emailed 90, 60, and 30 days before the BE BEP certification expires.  

FastTrack Certification

The FastTrack Certification allows vendors certified by one of the partner organizations listed below to apply for BEP certification. Vendors must submit proof of the FastTrack partner’s certification and a signed and notarized BEP application affidavit to the BEP certification unit for review and approval. The FastTrack application typically takes seven business days to process.  

The duration and commodity codes for the newly activated FastTrack Certification will match the existing certification held with the Fastrack partner. CEI will activate the vendor’s FastTrack Certification based on the host agency’s diversity certification. If applicable, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes provided by the host agency will be translated to National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) commodity codes using CEI's crosswalk.

The FastTrack partners include the:

Businesses must maintain their certification and comply with the rules of their host agency to maintain an active FastTrack Certification. If the host agency’s certification expires or the host agency suspends a vendor’s bidding privileges, then the FastTrack Certification will also expire or be suspended.

FastTrack-certified vendors are encouraged to notify the BEP certification unit within two weeks if any of the following changes occur:

·       Ownership changes.

·       Changes in control.

·       Changes in the host agency’s certification status.

Businesses certified through the FastTrack Certification will be listed in CEI’s certified vendor directory. 

Please see the FastTrack Application Checklist for a list of the required documentation. 

Renewal of Fast Track Certification

The FastTrack Certification term will mirror the FastTrack partner’s certification term. Please note that renewing your host agency’s certification does not automatically renew your BEP certification. To renew your FastTrack Certification, you must complete the FastTrack Certification process again by submitting the required documentation. The BEP certification unit will notify vendors to update their FastTrack certification 30, 60, and 90 days before their host agencies' and FastTrack certifications expire.