How to Register as a Vendor in Illinois

Where: BidBuy (Illinois eProcurement), plus the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG)
Cost: Free for IPG (\"There is no cost to vendors to register in the IPG\"). No BidBuy fee is mentioned in the official vendor manual; not explicitly confirmed.
How long: unknown
Last checked: 2026-09-27

What it's for

BidBuy is Illinois' eProcurement system for general goods and services bids. You register there to get bid notices and submit offers. Illinois also asks vendors to register in the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG), which collects the disclosure forms state agencies need before they award.

Have this ready

FEIN/EIN, legal name and W-9 details
Registration with the Illinois Secretary of State as an entity in good standing. This is required before you bid, except for sole proprietors.
An IDHR Eligibility Number, which you get by filing the Employer Report Form (PC-1) with the Illinois Department of Human Rights
A State Board of Elections registration certificate, if your bids across all Illinois agencies will total more than $50,000 in a year
NIGP commodity codes for what you sell
Business classification details such as federal tax status, firm type, number of employees and veteran status
Addresses, an administrator contact (your email becomes your login ID), and shipping/delivery terms

Steps

Go to bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso and choose the option to register.
Work through the sections the vendor manual describes: Company Information, Administrator Information, Addresses, Terms, Categories & Certifications, and Commodity/Service Codes. Fields marked with an asterisk are required. You can save and come back later. The session times out after 15 minutes without activity.
Choose NIGP codes. BidBuy uses them to match you to bid notices.
Review the summary and finish. You'll get an email confirming your registration.
Register in the IPG (ipg.illinois.gov) and complete the IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure.
If they apply to you, get your IDHR Eligibility Number and State Board of Elections certificate before you bid.

After you register

BidBuy sends notices of bids that match your NIGP codes, so keep the codes accurate.
Keep your profile, contacts and addresses current. The Seller Administrator Manual covers profile upkeep.
Keep your IPG disclosures, IDHR number and SBE registration current. How long IPG registration stays valid was not confirmed.
BidBuy support: 866-455-2897 or il.bidbuy@illinois.gov. IPG: 217-782-1270 or eec.ipg@illinois.gov.

Watch out for

Several registrations. BidBuy alone is not enough. Missing SOS good standing, an IDHR number or an SBE certificate can get your bid thrown out or delay the award.
Construction and DOT. State building construction goes through the Capital Development Board, which has its own procurement channel (see cpo-general.illinois.gov/cpo/cdb.html). IDOT posts its own transportation lettings, and higher education buys through a separate CPO.
Fees. IPG is officially free, and no BidBuy fee appears in state materials. You don't need a paid third-party "registration service."

Certifications and bid preferences in Illinois

Illinois Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Program (VBP)

Standard bid forms for Illinois

These are the forms bidders are most often asked to sign or attach on Illinois state bids. Each bid lists exactly which ones it needs, and many agencies attach their own copies, so always use the version in the bid documents when there is one.

Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) Registration

Online vendor registration that gives you an IPG number; each application is reviewed by staff, so it is not instant.

When: Vendors bidding on Illinois state contracts

Vendor Disclosures (Form A) and IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosures (Form B) (Form A / Form B)

Disclosures of ownership, conflicts of interest and related facts; Form A if you have no active IPG number, Form B if you do.

When: State bids and contracts (completed in IPG or with the solicitation)

Standard Illinois Certifications

A set of statutory certifications (such as tax, debarment and ethics compliance) that must accompany larger state contracts and be updated if anything changes.

When: State contracts and small purchases with an annual value over $50,000 (30 ILCS 500/50-90 and 20-20(d))

IPG Parent Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest Form

Discloses financial interests and conflicts of interest of your parent company.

When: If your company has a parent entity, as part of IPG disclosures

IPG Percentage of Ownership and Distributive Income Form

Shows who owns your company and what share of income each owner receives.

When: As part of IPG vendor disclosures when ownership disclosure is required

IDHR Bidder Eligibility Number (with sexual harassment policy and training)

A registration with the Illinois Department of Human Rights proving you have a sexual harassment prevention policy and annual training.

When: Businesses with 15 or more employees (now or in the past 365 days), or when a state agency asks (775 ILCS 5/2-101)

State Board of Elections Registration (Business Registration)

A required registration with the State Board of Elections for businesses with large pending state bids or contracts.

When: Vendors with $50,000 or more in aggregate pending bids or state contracts

Illinois Secretary of State Business Authorization

Proof your business is a legal entity authorized to do business in Illinois (30 ILCS 500/20-43).

When: All vendors bidding on state contracts

Capital Development Board Contractor Prequalification

State construction prequalification; subs and suppliers need a CDB registration number instead.

When: Prime contractors bidding on Illinois state construction projects through the Capital Development Board

Small Business and Veteran-Owned Business Preferences

Information on state procurement preferences for small, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses under 30 ILCS 500/45.

When: If you want to claim a preference on a state bid

Common questions

Is it free to register as a vendor in Illinois?

Free for IPG (\"There is no cost to vendors to register in the IPG\"). No BidBuy fee is mentioned in the official vendor manual; not explicitly confirmed.

Where do I register to bid in Illinois?

BidBuy: https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/

How long does Illinois vendor registration take?

unknown

What forms do I need to bid on Illinois state contracts?

Each bid lists its own forms. Ones bidders are commonly asked for include: Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) Registration; Vendor Disclosures (Form A) and IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosures (Form B); Standard Illinois Certifications; IPG Parent Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest Form; IPG Percentage of Ownership and Distributive Income Form. The full list with links to the official blank forms is on this page.

Sources

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any government agency. Registration is free or low cost on official sites; you don't need to pay a third party. Always follow the official portal's instructions.

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