August 1, 2022 | VENDOR FAIR, DPS Workshops, Upcoming Events, Bid Opportunity List (BOL)

Monday, August 1, 2022

Featured Speakers:

To celebrate our return to an in-person format, our Chief Procurement Officer, Aileen Velazquez, will kick off the day, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot will attend to deliver the opening address. Additionally, Deryl McKissack, President and Chief Executive Officer of McKissack & McKissack, will give the keynote address, and the City of Chicago Treasurer, Melissa Conyears-Ervin, will moderate our Financial Resources for Your Business Workshop Panel.

Event Highlights:

100+ EXHIBITORS
9 WORKSHOPS presented by subject matter experts
10+ Prime Contractors in the Business Connect
Consolidated Buying Plan Vendor Fair Edition
Networking for Contracting Opportunities
The ability to customize your workshop experience to create a Procurement Vendor Fair that meets your needs.
Information and resources for all business sizes and focus areas!
And much more... Hope to see you there!

VIRTUAL OUTREACH AND EVENTS

DPS participates in many outreach events around the Chicagoland area. Check out the upcoming events happening soon. For a full calendar of events, please visit www.chicago.gov/dpsevents

CTA MENTOR PROTEGE NETWORKING EVENT

CTA Headquarters - 2nd Floor Conference Room A

567 W Lake St, Chicago, IL

August 17, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join the CTA Diversity Programs for the mentor protégé networking event. The purpose of the mentor protégé program is to enhance the capacity and capability of DBE firms and thereby increase opportunities for DBE participation on CTA contracts, through hands-on and classroom training experience, the program strives to develop working relationships between DBE firms and prime contracting firms that have successfully participated in and/or completed CTA contracts. Host your company's table during the networking event to provide resources to potential proteges to foster business relationships.

Forward questions to diversity@transitchicago.com

DPS VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

We are now offering our workshops virtually. View the full workshop schedule at www.chicago.gov/dpsevents. To request an accommodation, please contact DPS Public Affairs at dps.accommodations@cityofchicago.org.

COMPLIANCE 101: HONORING OBLIGATIONS TO CHICAGO TAXPAYERS

August 31,, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

This workshop will provide an overview of vendor requirements, including information about paying correct wages, the City’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program, and Chicago Residency and Project Area Resident contracting requirements. Learn helpful tips on completing bid submittal compliance documentation and gain insight on laws, rules, and regulations governing compliance.

WEEKLY BID OPPORTUNITY LIST

Bid Opportunity List for the Week of August 1, 2022

The weekly Bid Opportunity List (BOL) is the resource to find currently advertised contracting opportunities with the City of Chicago. The information on the BOL is subject to change.

Please visit www.chicago.gov/bids for the latest updates on current solicitations.

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Please be advised that all contracts awarded on March 10, 2021 and beyond will include Terms related to compliance with Executive Order 2021-2. These terms include quarterly reporting requirements for the projected and actual utilization of M/WBE firms.

Business Diversity Program and Utilization Report Deadline

Last year, Mayor Lightfoot issued Executive Order 2021-2 (EO), which requires all contractors with City agreements to submit an annual report about their company's Business Diversity Program. As a result, the Business Diversity Program and Utilization Report (BDPR) is due on July 1st of each calendar year from all contractors, with limited exceptions. Note: Reporting forms and FAQs can be found by clicking the link to our dedicated microsite http://www.chicago.gov/bdp.

The EO requires the BDPR to be submitted by July 1st of each calendar year. Therefore, if you have not already completed your report for this year, please do so today.

***PLEASE NOTE*** - If you filed a BDP report last year, the credentials you used will not grant access to the microsite this year. Starting in 2022, contractor representatives are required to register in the Business Diversity Reporting system. This will allow each vendor the convenience of being able to leave and come back to Business Diversity Program reports in progress, find reports uploaded in previous years, and keep a historical record of the reports going forward. Click on the Vendor Registration link to register. Once registered, you can simply log in to get access to previously submitted reports, continue working on in-progress reports for the current year, and upload new reports.

Thank you for your attention to advancing the administration's leadership in ensuring that the private sector is an equal and accountable partner in building a more diverse Chicago.

RESOURCES FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Resource Navigators

The City of Chicago has established Small Business Resource Navigators to provide 1:1 assistance to small businesses looking for support. For more information, click here.

Information on Chicago Reopening Guidelines

Mayor Lightfoot released industry-specific guidelines for businesses, employees, and customers to follow as the city prepares to begin safely reopening. Industry-specific guidelines include details such as how businesses can engage in healthy interactions between workers and customers, maintain safe working spaces and conditions, and design and monitor workplace operations to create flexibility and maintain safety for employees and customers. Guidelines can be found at www.chicago.gov/reopening.

DPS RESOURCES ONLINE

DPS believes that everyone should have a chance to participate in government business. Including participation in bidding on a contract, being a supplier, becoming a certified vendor, or even learning how to do business with the City.

Our DPS website provides information to inform our vendor community of procurement news, outreach, initiative, and programs. Visit www.chicago.gov/dps to learn about the following: