How to register as a vendor with City of Chicago

City of Chicago posts its solicitations on City of Chicago iSupplier Portal (eProcurement).^[1] eProcurement bids are answered in iSupplier, but some bids are non-eProcurement and are downloaded or picked up at the Department of Procurement Services Bid and Bond Room.

BidRover is tracking 41 open bids from buyers in and around City of Chicago. Most common categories:

• Construction & facilities · 17
• General procurement · 9
• Transportation & logistics · 5
• Goods & supplies · 4
• Cloud & infrastructure · 1
• Environmental & energy · 1
• Marketing & communications · 1
• Professional services · 1

1. Jardine Water Purification Plant – Surface Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Protection of Underlying Water Treatment FacilitiesIllinois, United States · Due Dec 19, 2026
2. Horse Waste Removal & Hauling Service for CPD Mounted Unit Target MarketIllinois, United States · Due Nov 18, 2026
3. DHS IFB CRMHC Courtyard FencingIllinois, United States · Due Oct 28, 2026
4. Clean Fleet and Freight Concierge Services Northern RegionIllinois, United States · Due Oct 30, 2026
5. BACP Small Business Technology Enhancement Program - Service Area 3Illinois, United States · Due Oct 31, 2026
6. Mattresses, Bedding and Miscellaneous Accessories Target MarketIllinois, United States · Due Nov 19, 2026

Local buyers with open bids

• City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services · 38 open bids

1. 01

   Register on iSupplier Portal vendor registration

   Start registration. Cost: No fee listed by the City. New vendors use the New Vendor Registration button. Work with sister agencies such as CPS or the CTA, or with Cook County, does not count as prior City registration.^[2]

2. 02

   Have your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)

   iSupplier checks your FEIN during registration and flags firms that already have a City vendor number.^[2]

3. 03

   Choose your commodity codes

   Notifications are sent by the codes in your vendor profile. Pick every code that describes your work, and revisit them when you add a service.

4. 04

   Get certified if you qualify

   Minority-Owned (MBE) and Women-Owned (WBE) Business Enterprise certification, through the Department of Procurement Services, Office of Contracting Equity. 51% ownership and control; firm must be in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Lake or McHenry county; Cook County MBE/WBE certification is accepted.^[3]

5. 05

   Watch the other buyers

   State agencies in Illinois buy through the state portal, and school districts, transit agencies and utilities in the area usually post on their own sites. Registering with City of Chicago does not register you with them.

Exact requirements vary by portal; the registration page linked above is the authority. Most ask for:

• Your legal business name and address exactly as registered with the state, and your federal tax ID (EIN, or SSN for some sole proprietors).
• A signed IRS Form W-9, which most buyers collect before they can pay you.
• Commodity codes (NIGP, UNSPSC or NAICS, depending on the portal) for every product and service you sell.
• A contact who will receive bid notices, plus any business license or registration the jurisdiction requires.
• Certificates of insurance and, for construction, bonding capacity: these are usually requested per bid rather than at registration.

• Log in before downloading a solicitation so you are added to the Specification Take-Out List and get addenda.
• iSupplier is down for maintenance Thursday evenings from 8 to 9 pm, so do not wait until the last minute to submit.

1. chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dps/isupplier/current-bids.html
2. chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dps/isupplier/vendor-registration.html
3. chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dps/office-of-contracting-equity/certification.html