Illinois Launches Webinar Series to Help Vendors Navigate State IT Contracting (Springfield, IL) – The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology is launching a new five-part webinar series aimed at helping current and prospective technology vendors better understand and compete in the state’s procurement process.
The series, titled “Mastering the State Contracting Game,” is being offered through DoIT’s Office of Supplier Diversity in collaboration with the IT Procurement Office. It is part of the state’s broader “Leveraging Diversity in Technology Procurement” educational initiative and is designed to demystify how Illinois awards IT contracts.
“This series pulls back the curtain on how state contracting really works,” said Alice Rivera-Alfaro, DoIT’s chief of supplier diversity. “We’re not just telling vendors what to do — we’re showing them how to do it.”
The webinars are intended to equip vendors with practical tools and step-by-step guidance for responding to state solicitations, including Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals. Sessions will be led by representatives from the IT Procurement Office and moderated by Reginald Lampkin, DoIT’s BEP/VBP manager for supplier diversity.
Each session will include live demonstrations of BidBuy, the state’s electronic procurement system, and opportunities for participants to ask questions in real time.
The series begins Jan. 21 and runs through May 13, with one webinar scheduled each month from 10 to 11 a.m. Central time:
Part I, Jan. 21: “Cracking the Code: Responding to an Invitation for Bid,” covering bid requirements, pricing sheets, delivery schedules and submission protocols.
Part II, Feb. 11: “Small Purchase, Big Opportunity,” focusing on informal solicitations under $100,000 and how vendors can monitor and respond to them.
Part III, March 11: “Reading Between the Lines: RFP Part I,” examining RFP structures, evaluation criteria and compliance requirements.
Part IV, April 15: “Building a Winning Proposal,” offering guidance on technical narratives, statements of work and supporting documents.
Part V, May 13: “Price, Proposals, Questions, and Post-Submission Process,” addressing pricing strategies, amendments, clarification questions and post-submission steps.
All sessions will be recorded and made available to those who register, though officials encourage live participation to take advantage of question-and-answer segments and real-time system walkthroughs.
Registration for the webinar series is available through the Illinois Webex platform. Additional information about vendor resources and upcoming events can be found on the Department of Innovation and Technology’s website.
Illinois Launches Webinar Series to Help Vendors Navigate State IT Contracting
