March 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

County Board President Todd H. Stroger Proposes New Cook County Procurement Code

• A requirement that all potential bidders and proposers certify that they have paid all  municipal and state taxes and that they are in good standing with the State of Illinois;
• A requirement that all vendors certify that they have complied with all relevant requirements of the county’s ethics code, including the campaign disclosure provisions and provisions regarding receiving and soliciting gifts;
• A requirement that all vendors execute an economic disclosure statement disclosing persons or entities who have made lobbying contacts on behalf of the vendor with respect to the contract;
• Detailed procedures regarding the competitive bidding process;
• Detailed procedures regarding RFPs and RFQs, including a requirement that all professional service contracts over $25,000.00 be selected through the issuance of an RFP or RFQ and that Using Departments and Elected Officials notify the Purchasing Agent prior to issuing any RFP’s or RFQ’s and submit the RFP/Q to the Purchasing Agent for review prior to its issuance;
• A requirement that the Cook County Purchasing Agent initiate an e-procurement process within six months (by July 1, 2007);
• Official provisions for sole source procurements; and
• Provisions for emergency procurements, allowing the Cook County Purchasing Agent to make emergency purchases, provided the Purchasing Agent notifies the county board within 48 hours of such purchases.

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