Monday, December 20, 2021
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM EVERYONE AT DPS!
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.
FIRST LOOK: Public Safety
January 5, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
DPS First Look is a virtual procurement spotlight of the City of Chicago Public Safety agencies: the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), Chicago Police Department (CPD), and Chicago Fire Department (CFD), and the Office of Public Safety Administration (PSA). This session is intended to educate vendors about the services the City of Chicago’s public safety agencies provide and to learn what products and services the departments will need to procure in the next 12 months to assist in those efforts.
HOW TO BECOME CERTIFIED
January 12, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
DPS is the certifying agency for the following certifications: Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Veteran-Owned Business (VBE), Business Enterprise for People with Disabilities (BEPD), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE). This workshop will provide detailed information on who is qualified to be a Chicago certified firm. Learn out what documents are needed when submitting an application and how to avoid the most common mistakes in the certification process. Subject matter experts will be on-hand to answer all your questions about common certification topics.
PROCUREMENT FUNDAMENTALS: DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY
January 13, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Do you have questions about how to become a successful bidder on City contracting opportunities? Unsure where to begin? This informational workshop highlights the role and responsibility of DPS in the City’s purchasing process. Come learn about different procurement methods and the laws which govern the procurement process. Once completed, you will better understand what it takes before you start the bidding process and your responsibilities after you have won a contract with the City of Chicago.
THE ABC’S OF DBE AND ACDBE CERTIFICATION
January 19, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
This workshop provides an overview of the City’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs. Come learn about the application process and benefits of certification as part of the Illinois Unified Certification process with the City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace.
WEEKLY BID OPPORTUNITY LIST
Bid Opportunity List for the Week of December 20, 2021
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.
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.
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 recently 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, how to maintain safe working spaces and conditions, and how to 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 the business of government. This includes participation by way of bidding on a contract, being a supplier, becoming a certified vendor, or even learning about how to do business with the City.

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

DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES | www.chicago.gov/dps