SPRINGFIELD — The Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) has released its Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Annual Expenditure Report for the Business Enterprise Program for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities (BEP), in accordance with Section 8f of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act (BEP Act). This report showcases the State of Illinois' (State) progress in supplier diversity and identifies the FY25 BEP achievements of State agencies, boards, commissions, and public institutions of higher education subject to the BEP Act.
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"CEI's mission is to maximize supplier diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring access to contracting opportunities by developing procedures and initiatives that make the procurement process inclusive, fair, and equitable while providing support, education, and mentorship. Our vision is to be a trailblazing leader in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive procurement environment where supplier diversity, equity, and inclusion are celebrated, and opportunities are accessible to all, driving positive social impact and economic growth," said Alexandria Wilson, JD, CPPB, the Executive Director of CEI.
In FY25, Illinois achieved approximately $1.62 billion in total BEP spending, exceeding the State’s prior three-year BEP expenditure levels and setting a new high-water mark for dollars awarded to BEP-certified vendors. When measured against the updated, entity-reported Dollars Subject to the Goal (DSG), State purchasing entities collectively achieved 14% of non-construction DSG and 8% of construction with BEP firms in FY25, reflecting meaningful progress toward the 30% and 20% aspirational goals, respectively.
The BEP Act requires each agency and public institution of higher education subject to its provisions to file an annual report detailing their utilization of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities during the preceding fiscal year, including spending from the lapse period. The data in this report was submitted to CEI by the purchasing entities subject to the BEP Act in their FY25 Annual BEP Expenditure Reports.
To access the press release, visit https://cei.illinois.gov/about-the-commission/news.html
To access CEI’s BEP Annual Reports, visit https://cei.illinois.gov/programs0/business-enterprise-program/bep-annual-reports.html
