Cook County M/W/V/SDV/PDBE Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 12/30/2024. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

Cook County certifies companies as MBEs (Minority-Owned Business Enterprises), WBEs (Women-Owned Business Enterprises), VBEs (Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises), SDVBEs (Service-Disabled Business Enterprises), and PDBEs (Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprises). Eligibility requirements are laid out on the home page for the Office of Contract Compliance (OCC), including requirements that a business be headquartered in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Lake or McHenry counties, and that maximum gross receipts are set at one-and-a-half times the U.S. Small Business Administration's size standards for a small business.

Does this local/state program offer reciprocal certifications with other local/state programs? There is a reciprocal Minority and Women Business Enterprise between Cook County and the City of Chicago, allowing firms certified by one entity to be considered valid by the other entity.

Does this program require bidders attempt to make a good-faith effort to meet participation goals? Cook County sets "minority, women and disadvantaged business participation goals" on its projects.

Does this certification expire? Certifications are valid for three years, with annual validation required during that term. On the expiry of the term of three years, a Re-Certification Affidavit is required.

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