- Home
- Departments & Offices
- Finance Department
- Doing Business
Doing Business With Lake County
Vendor Outreach
Lake County is committed to working with the County’s diverse and inclusive vendor community. This not only gives us a larger group of potential suppliers and options, but it also makes our supply chains stronger and more reliable. And it benefits Lake County from an overall economic standpoint and increases opportunities for disadvantaged businesses.
Previous Outreach Events
In the spring, Lake County held 5 outreach events to inform vendors and businesses about contracting and subcontracting opportunities with Lake County. These sessions provided useful information on navigating the procurement process with Lake County as well as an interactive discussion on possible challenges along the way. Resources outside of Lake County which can offer technical assistance were also provided.
Vendors and businesses are encouraged to watch the webinar recording below to learn about the three-step process to work with Lake County, upcoming projects and procurement opportunities, how businesses can work with Lake County, and various initiatives and programs including job order contracting.
Purchasing Division
The Purchasing Division works to ensure an open and competitive purchasing process, and assists Lake County departments and agencies in purchasing required goods and services in conformance with the Lake County Purchasing Ordinance. Purchasing also strives to increase awareness about business opportunities, while maximizing participation from Lake County businesses, including women owned and minority business enterprise.
Lake County invests around $200 million each year on various goods and services including equipment, products, supplies, and services ranging from small to big purchases. Additionally, the County has multi-million dollar construction projects including roads and buildings where products and services are needed.
Doing Business With Lake County
Doing Business with Lake County is a three step process:
- Get Registered - Register your company on the online bid and vendor registration portal. Through this online portal, vendors can download full bid packages, register to receive email notifications about procurement opportunities, post addendum questions, and download plan holder lists. The tool also allows multiple individuals from the same firm to register. All vendors are required to register on the portal.
- Get the Business - Submit bids, proposals, or quotes for your products and services. Purchasing will review, evaluate, and make a recommendation. If selected, you then enter into a contract with the County.
- Get Paid - Issue invoices for goods and services. The County will make payment within 30 days from the date the invoice was received. The Lake County Procurement Ordinance (PDF) must adhere to State procurement laws which require competitive solicitation of products and services above a certain dollar amount. Payments must be made in accordance with the Illinois Prompt Payment Act.
Vendor Disclosure
Effective January 2019 the Lake County Board implemented a Vendor Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Policy, which require vendors to disclose any familial relationships between a Lake County elected official, department director, deputy director, manager and owners, principals or officers of the vendor’s company as well as campaign contributions to County elected officials. Completed forms are included as part of the Awarded Contracts database.
Lake County's Buy Local. Build Local. Work Local. program aims to connect Lake County businesses-including women-owned and minority businesses - with government procurement opportunities.
Economic Opportunity Program
The County has adopted an Economic Opportunity Program (PDF) to increase procurement opportunities for Local, Women-Owned and Minority Business Enterprise (L/W/MBE). The goal is to maximize participation from L/W/MBE businesses interested in doing business with Lake County, or connect them with other job assistance programs including training services, apprenticeship programs, and more.State law mandates an open and competitive bidding process and requires that contracts be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The County is prohibited from demonstrating a preference based on bidder's location, race, or gender.
Job Order Contracting
Lake County utilizes Job Order Contracting (JOC) (PDF) as a method to procure select construction and renovation projects involving demolition, electrical work, HVAC, carpentry, concrete, painting, plumbing and other trade work. JOC is an Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity construction contract that expedites the ordering of construction services while controlling cost plus increasing quality and transparency. The County has Job Order Contracts in place with Paul Borg Construction Company, Homestead Electrical Contracting, LLC, and McDonagh Demolition, Inc. To obtain information about Job Order Contracting, or to identify sub-contracting opportunities, we encourage you to visit their website.In January 2022, the Purchasing and Facilities teams hosted a Virtual Meet & Greet for local business owners to learn more about this unique procurement process. Watch the webinar recording about JOC and upcoming projects and procurement opportunities for 2022.
The slides from this presentation are also available.
Surplus Items
Lake County sells surplus such as computer, vehicles, equipment, office furniture and much more to employees and the public. Obenauf Auction Services, Inc handles our LIVE Auction in the Spring and Fall. GovDeals handles all our ONLINE Auctions all year around. Details of the purchase and pick-up of the surplus items are explained in detail on our vendors websites. Please visit Obenauf Auction Service or GovDeals for more information.