Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), along with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Department of Transportation (IDOT), and Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (IPHEC), has announced the 2023 State of Illinois Vendor Summit. The event is set for November 30, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University of Illinois at Chicago Student Center East.

The summit offers businesses an opportunity to engage with industry experts and government representatives through educational workshops and networking sessions. Vendors can register at www.illinois.gov/vendorsummit.

Attendees will have access to an exhibit hall featuring booths that detail upcoming contracting opportunities, training, and business development programs. State Agencies, Universities, and entities offering technical assistance will be present. Workshops will focus on helping businesses navigate state procurement processes and highlight resources available for business growth.

This event follows the successful 2022 Vendor Summit and aims to diversify the state's vendor base by providing equitable contracting opportunities for small, minority-owned, veteran-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged enterprises.

To increase transparency in the contracting process, CMS publishes the State of Illinois' Quarterly Buying Plan through its Bureau of Strategic Sourcing (BoSS). This plan helps vendors prepare for state solicitations by outlining registration requirements and offering guidance on technical assistance.

The schedule includes registration at 9:00 a.m., followed by a welcome session at 9:30 a.m., workshops throughout the day, and concurrent sessions with various state departments in the afternoon. Subject matter experts will be available to answer questions about contracting opportunities during the event.

For more information or to register for the summit, visit www.illinois.gov/vendorsummit.