The Buying Plan is available for download to help the vendor community plan ahead in anticipation of the upcoming 2021 Virtual Construction Summit.

The Buying Plan is a key transparency initiative that the City of Chicago and 13 additional government agencies uses to forecast the goods and services that it expects to procure in the next 6 quarters, allowing businesses and the vendor community to prepare for upcoming solicitations.

The Buying Plan continues to grow and serve the local vendor community. We have enhanced the Buying Plan by highlighting Small Business Initiative (SBI), Mid-Size Business Initiative (MBI), and Target Market opportunities for quick reference. Additionally, the Buying Plan includes COVID-19 busines resources to communicate updated guidance for the businesses, consumers and employees affected by this public health crisis.

DPS has published a four-volume set of Resource Guides, expanding on the guiding principle of transparency. The series of Resource Guides were developed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the City procurement process that is accessible for businesses at every stage of the contracting process.

The Resource Guides were divided into key areas of the procurement process:

• Contract Administration – Adhering to laws governing the procurement process, and delivering the goods and services that enable the City’s User Departments to fulfill their missions

• Incentives and Programs – Creating innovative approaches with the objective of greater inclusion, diversity, and equity in government contracting

• Certification – Administering a rigorous process that creates access and opportunity to ensure that all firms have an opportunity to participate in contracts that are paid for with taxpayer dollars

• Compliance – Safeguarding that vendors are meeting their commitments to Chicago’s residents

DPS looks forward to keeping you informed about business opportunities with the City, outreach and networking events. Sign up to receive notices of upcoming bid and RFP/Q opportunities for contracts. You should expect to receive a notice of opportunities every Monday, and notices of events as they are announced.

eProcurement is an advancement to business-to-government that applies digital technology to the acquisition of goods and services. The portal, iSupplier, is a resource for vendors interested in doing business with the City of Chicago allowing users to:

• Respond to Bids, RFPs, RFQs online

• View & Track payments & invoices

• Electronic submission of invoices

NOTICE: Beginning October 12, 2020, legal advertisements for the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS) will appear in the Chicago Tribune and online at www.publicnoticeillinois.com. Information about DPS contracting opportunities will be available at www.chicago.gov/bids.