Illinois BEP and Veterans Business Program: Status and What to Do

What it is

The Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) runs both programs; CMS's procurement page sends BEP and VBP questions to CEI. BEP certifies businesses owned by minorities, women and persons with disabilities, with a state goal of 30% of state contracts. VBP certifies businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans; agencies and universities are encouraged to spend at least 3% with them. Agency contracts of $100,000 or more carry BEP and VBP goals unless exempt (per the Auditor General).

What changed

• CEI's certification page says that "as of October 3, 2025," the federal DBE program no longer considers race or gender. Firms whose BEP status came through a host agency such as IDOT should file a full BEP application or get certified by a recognized partner "to secure" their state MBE or WBE status.
• CEI Notice 2026.3 (April 1, 2026): on procurements published on or after that date, a certified firm doing a "commercially useful function" no longer has to be registered under the bid's commodity codes. Older bids follow the old rule.
• CEI Notice 2026.1: starting January 5, 2026, agencies must ask the BEP Council, before a bid is published, to exempt a whole class of contracts from BEP goals.

Who qualifies

• BEP: at least 51% owned and controlled by minorities, women or persons with a disability who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Gross sales under $150 million. No not-for-profits.
• VBP: at least 51% owned by veterans or service-disabled veterans living in Illinois, an Illinois home office, and gross sales under $150 million. A DD214 is required.
• Out-of-state firms: the BEP eligibility checklist states no Illinois location rule. VBP requires Illinois residency and an Illinois home office.
• Recognition: BE BEP accepts Cook County, City of Chicago, CTA, IDOT, Metra or Pace certification. FastTrack accepts the Chicago MSDC, Mid-States MSDC and Women's Business Development Center. VBP recognizes SBA VetCert, Cook County and City of Chicago veteran certification.

What it means for your bids

• Many state bids require a BEP and VBP utilization plan (U-Plan). Primes list certified subcontractors to meet the goal.
• A contract class exempted by the BEP Council has no BEP goal for that year.
• The Small Business Set-Aside Program is separate. It reserves some state buys for qualified Illinois small businesses and runs through the Illinois Procurement Gateway.

How to get certified

1. Pick your track: https://cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/get-bep-certified.html (VBP: https://cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/vbp-certification.html).
2. Create an account in the Supplier Diversity Management Portal and upload the checklist documents.
3. Cost: BEP certification is free. The VBP pages do not list a fee.
4. Timing: about 60 days for full BEP, about seven business days for BE BEP and FastTrack.
5. Term: full BEP lasts seven years and full VBP five years, each with an annual No Change Affidavit. Partner-based certificates follow the partner's term; VBP recognition lasts one year.

Watch out for

• A September 2025 state audit found CEI could not measure processing times after a data migration.
• FastTrack does not renew when your partner certificate renews. You must reapply.
• City of Chicago and Cook County run separate programs.
• Federal DBE (IDOT highway and transit work) is a separate program.
• Free help: CEI.BEP@illinois.gov or 312-814-4190. CEI warns of phishing messages that pretend to be from the agency.

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Sources

• cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/get-bep-certified.html
• cei.illinois.gov/programs0/business-enterprise-program.html
• cei.illinois.gov/veterans-business-program.html
• cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/vbp-certification.html
• cei.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/cei/documents/SDMP_BEP-VBP%20-%20Eligibility%2
• cei.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/cei/documents/notices/CEI%20Notice%202026.3%20
• cei.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/cei/documents/notices/updated-for-accessibilit
• cms.illinois.gov/business/procurement/how-to-do-business.html
• veterans.illinois.gov/services-benefits/entrepreneurship/state-procurement-benefits-for-vet
• cpo-general.illinois.gov/sell-2-illinois.html
• www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Performance-Special-Multi/Performance-Audits/2025_Relea

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Status can change quickly with court orders and new laws, so confirm with the program office before you rely on it.