Doing Business
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is committed to the inclusion of minority and women owned business enterprises (MBE and WBE) in our overall procurement and contracting processes across the campus. As such, we have established a Business Diversity Department to ensure participation by MBEs and WBEs in the procurement process and to monitor contract compliance to meet MBE and WBE goals.
Business Diversity
How to do Business with MPEA
If you are interested in doing business with the MPEA, we encourage you to participate by taking the following steps:
- Complete the Vendor Registration Form. Once the form is completed and submitted, your company will be placed in our database.
- Respond to notifications of bid opportunities and obtain a copy of the bid documents. (Please note: notifications of bid opportunities are sent via fax and/or email alert to registered vendors whose nature of business is consistent with the bid notification.)
- Attend the pre-bid/proposal conference, which is held to share information and answer any questions regarding the bid. After the pre-bid/proposal conference, bidders are given 10 days to respond.
- Once bids are received, they are evaluated based on the lowest, most responsible and responsive bidder.
- All bidders/proposers will receive an approval or rejection letter.
When responding to the special conditions regarding Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), please complete the necessary forms and documents.
If you have any questions, please contact the MPEA Procurement Department.
Contact MPEA
Hilary Barker
Director of Procurement
hbarker@mpea.com
Tameka Carter
Procurement Administrator
tcarter@mpea.com
MPEA Procurement Department
mpeaprocurement@mpea.com
Current Bids/Proposal Opportunities
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority’s Purchasing Department has currently issued the following Requests for Qualifications or Proposals and Invitation for Bids, as described below.
Last Updated:12/04/2023
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority will not be liable bidder/proposer’s failure to obtain or download any addenda issued for a bid or request for qualifications/proposals which are downloaded from this website.By downloading solicitation documents from this website, proposers agree that it is their sole responsibility to obtain any addenda that may be subsequently issued. Failure to do so may result in rejection of the bid and/or proposal.
Awarded Contracts
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority’s Purchasing Department has awarded the following contracts.
Last Updated: 12/01/23
Forms and Documents
Minority and Women Business Enterprise Schedules
Please complete the attached schedules ONLY if you are responding to the Minority and Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE ) Special Conditions Section of your bid package. Please complete all forms applicable to your business needs. If you need additional assistance, please feel free to contact one of our Business and Workforce Diversity Department.
Required Form I: (Special Conditions Regarding Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises)
Schedule A: (Affidavit of Bidder/Proposer Regarding MBE/WBE Commitments)
Schedule B: (Letter of Intent to Perform as a MBE/WBE Firm)
Schedule C: (Joint Venture Affidavit)
Schedule D: (Certification of M/WBE Unavailability)
Procurement Process
Types of Requests for Bids/Proposals:
- Invitation for Bids (IFB) — This open, competitive bid process is generally required for contracts for goods/services in excess of $10,000 and construction projects over $30,000. Exceptions to this requirement are listed in the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act, 70 ILCS 210/24 and 210/25.1.
- Request for Proposals (RFP) — This open competitive proposal process is utilized when contracting for professional services in excess of $25,000 where several evaluation factors identified in the RFP will be used to select a contractor.
- Request for Qualifications (RFQ) — This process is utilized to qualify a “pool” of suppliers to provide a service or product. Selection is based on the qualifications enumerated in the RFQ. Suppliers who have been qualified through this process are requested to provide pricing on a project by project basis.
Advertisement of Opportunity
Notices of available opportunities are advertised in the Chicago Sun-Times. The advertisement will specify the product or service required, where and when prospective bidders may obtain the solicitation document and the due date and time of proposal/bid submission.
Advertisements are also sent by e-mail to those companies who are listed in the MPEA Vendor Database as providers of the advertised product or service. Firms can register with the MPEA by completing the Vendor Registration Form.
Procurement Laws and Regulations
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority believes that the maintenance of high ethical standards is essential to the continued success of its business in a highly competitive market. It is therefore the policy of the Authority to comply with all laws which pertain to its business activities and to conduct its affairs ethically and responsibly. This commitment extends to MPEA’s interactions with its vendors and potential vendors.
MPEA’s vendor relationships are generally governed by the following laws and regulations:
- Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act, as amended by Public Acts 096-0898 and 096-0899, 70 ILCS 210/1-28
- Illinois Procurement Code, 30 ILCS 500/1-99
- Illinois Official Misconduct, 720 ILCS 5/33-1
- Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Code of Ethics Ordinance Ordinance No. MPEA 10-02
- Chicago Municipal Code 2-156-445 Limitation of contributing to candidates and elected officials.
- Chicago Municipal Code 2-156-520 Access to list of current contractors.
All MPEA vendors and potential vendors are expected to conduct their affairs with MPEA in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
If you have a concern or a question pertaining to these laws, regulations or policies, please contact the MPEA Procurement Department at mpeaprocurement@mpea.com.
Project Labor Agreement and Prevailing Wage
Construction and work services contractors shall comply with the Project Labor Agreement for McCormick Place.
To the extent required by law, laborers, mechanics, or other workers shall be paid the prevailing wage as defined in the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1 et. seq.), as amended.
Useful Links
For other City of Chicago bid and proposal opportunities please refer to the following city websites.
Calendar of Events
MPEA Contractor Loan Program
The MPEA Contractor Loan Program
The purpose of MPEA Contractor Loan Program is to grow the capacity of diverse businesses, contractors and suppliers of MPEA. MPEA defines diverse businesses as certified ethnic minority or women owned. MPEA Contractor Loan Program was created in partnership with Wintrust Bank to help diverse suppliers by providing access to short-term lines of credit.
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