Commission on Equity and Inclusion; powers and duties

Through P.A. 101-657, the Illinois Procurement Code was modified to include the Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI). This commission has been tasked with powers and duties related to procurement.  On July 13, 2022, the Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) was incorporated in the workflow of the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for Institutions of Higher Education. This means each solicitation level procurement (>$100,000) will be reviewed by the CEI before a contract can be executed. The CEI review period is concurrent with the Procurement Policy Boards (PPB) review period, 14 days (30 ILCS 500/5-30). We have been informed that the CEI will not be issuing waivers. This means all awarded solicitations will be under review for the entire 14-day period. The review period may extend beyond 14-days as allowed in the relevant statutes.  Requesting departments must plan accordingly when planning a solicitation.

Relevant Statutes: Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act: 30 ILCS 574; Illinois Procurement Code: 30 ILCS 500/5-7, 5-30, and 45-57