The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting free virtual workshops as part of its Building Blocks of Success series for firms interested in participating in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program to strengthen their skills and bidding on state projects. The workshops are open to all, but some are tailored to specific districts/regions of the state. Building Blocks of Success online workshops will be conducted through April 2021. Workshop information, including dates and times, will be made available through Eventbrite at bit.ly/DBEworkshops. Advance registration is required. For questions regarding the workshops, email DOT.SupportiveServices@illinois.gov. 

CREATE Program partner CSX is inviting bids for CREATE Project P3 Stage 1 Track, Earthwork, Grading, and Drainage construction. A mandatory virtual pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM (CST) on September 29, 2020 and a site inspection is scheduled on September 30, 2020.

To encourage networking and facilitate opportunities for DBE participation, contact information for all participants who join the webinar/conference call will be made available temporarily online via the CREATE Program website, after the webinar/conference call.

Read the full bid advertisement here: https://www.createprogram.org/get-involved/bids-rfps/

A mandatory pre-proposal web meeting for CREATE projects P3 and GS19 and WA11 is scheduled for June 2, 2020, at 9 AM CDT.  Make a reservation by emailing CREATEPROPOSAL@CSX.COM and the web meeting information will be provided.

Interested prime consultants are required to attend the pre-proposal web meeting.  ONLY 2 Members per firm may attend.

Contact information for all participants who join the pre-proposal web meeting will be made available temporarily online on the CREATE website Bids/RFPs page and the 75th St. CIP website news page after the web meeting to encourage networking and facilitate opportunities for DBE participation.

A mandatory preproposal webinar/conference call for UP Projects EW2 & WA1 is scheduled for Friday, May 15th, 2020 at 10:00 am CT. Detailed webinar information will be provided to those registered using the process described below.

Interested prime consultants will be required to pre-register at https://suppliers.www.uprr.com/caz/supplier/registration/index.html to gain access to Union Pacific’s Source Hub. In the comment section towards the bottom of the Union Pacific Supplier Registration Request form, indicate if you want access to EW2, WA1, or both. Contact Union Pacific's Supplier Management Group at 402-544-0025 with any registration questions. More information on the prime consultant registration process is available in the full advertisement.

All other interested parties for EW2 and WA1 including DBE organizations will be required to register through this Eventbrite link.

Please note: Contact information for all participants who join the webinar/conference call will be made available temporarily online on the CREATE website Bids/RFPs page and the 75th St. CIP website news page after the webinar/conference call to encourage networking and facilitate opportunities for DBE participation.

For more information about the CREATE Program, please go to www.createprogram.org.

CREATE Program partner, Metra, held a pre-proposal meeting for Engineering Design Services for the Metra Rock Island Bridge 87 at 79th Street.

This event provided opportunities to network with Cook County and its sister agencies. The event also included the following workshops: Procurement 101, Advanced Look into 2020 Buying Plan - Capital Planning, Transportation and Highways, M/WBE Certification/Compliance, Growing Your Business - Access to Capital, Working with DHSEM and the Use of Federal Grant Funds and Cook County Dept. of Public Health - Good Food Policy Panel Discussion.

CREATE Program partner, Metra, held a pre-proposal meeting for Engineering Design Services for the Rock Island Connection (P2).

This event provided small businesses access to prime contractors and an opportunity for free educational workshops. Metra recognized and honored prime contractors, subcontractors, assist agencies and staff members that have provided exceptional service and promote diversity and inclusion. Three hundred people attended, including 180 DBEs.

CREATE Program partner Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), held a pre-proposal meeting and networking event. This event provided small businesses access to prime contractors. One hundred people attended, and 46 DBEs were represented.

The "Get On Board" business-to-business networking event offered an opportunity for certified DBEs and small businesses to engage with public agencies, freight and passenger railroads and prime contractors and to learn about bid or professional services opportunities related to the CREATE Program. Over 190 people attended including 70 DBE participants from 56 DBE firms.