Doing Business with Cook County Health

Cook County Health’s Supply Chain Management Department strategically creates high-performing Supply Chain Management Procurement by sourcing quality goods and services across all major spend categories, effectively managing supplier relationships and realizing contracted performance and cost savings throughout the health system.

As a public entity, Cook County Health’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) Department welcomes all suppliers to participate in the open bidding and RFP process, and encourages all potential suppliers to use the guidelines provided in this website to assist them in future bidding RFP efforts.

Click here to register as a Prospective
Vendor and
Review RFPs.

Any questions regarding bidding/buying procedures should be directed to the Supply Chain Management staff.

Quick Links

Bids & RFPs

Bid/RFP Process Reference Documents

Thank you for your interest in doing business with Cook County Health. Please download and utilize the following documents as required in each Bid/RFP submission.

Vendor Enrollment

Vendor Enrollment allows vendors to electronically download proposal documents.
Vendors enrolled will also receive notification of new opportunities via email. 

Register as a Prospective Vendor and Review RFPs: https://cookcountyhealth.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

Public Bids

Requests for Qualifications or Requests for Proposals

Criteria for use of Requests for Qualifications or Requests for Proposals
The System SCM Director may determine that it is in the best interest of the System to make a Purchase by a Request for Qualifications or Request for Proposals (“RFP”) because such Purchase is not readily adaptable to Bid. Examples include, but are not limited to: Purchases involving services requiring a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the Person plays an important part; Purchases where the requirements are not clearly known; Purchases where quality rather than quantity is a primary factor; and Purchases where it is not in the best interest of the System to make price a primary determinative factor.
Content of RFPs and RFQS
The System SCM Director shall consult with the Using Department in determining the form and content of an RFP or RFQ. RFPs and RF Qs shall include a provision stating that they may result in the negotiation of a Purchase with one or more Respondents or Proposers.
Issuance
The System SCM Director shall issue the RFP or RFQ and shall post a notice of all RFPs and RFQS on the System’s website. The System SCM Director may also request that the County’s Chief Procurement Officer post the RFP or RFQ on the County’s website.
Opening of Proposals
Unless the Responses or Proposals are required to be submitted electronically, the Responses or Proposals shall be opened in the presence of one or more Witnesses after the designated date and time for submission. The names of the Proposers shall be open for public inspection after the Purchase has been completed.
Evaluation and Selection for Contract Negotiation
The RFP or RFQ shall include the factors to be used in evaluating Proposals and Responses. These factors may include, but are not limited to, price, experience and qualifications of the Proposer, the quality and cost effectiveness of the Proposal, and the demonstrated willingness and ability of the Proposer to satisfy the requirements of the System as described in the RFP. The evaluation shall be performed by a committee chaired by the System SCM Director or designee with representatives from the appropriate System AfÍ`1liate(s) and other persons designated by the System SCM Director. Any or all Respondents or Proposers may be requested to make presentations and/or submit clarifications or revisions to their Responses or Proposals for the purpose of obtaining best and final Responses or Proposals. The evaluation committee shall document the results of the evaluation and its recommendation. The contents of the Responses or Proposals shall not be disclosed to competing Proposers during the evaluation process.
Contract Negotiation and Approval/Execution
The System SCM Director shall oversee the negotiation of a Contract(s) with the Proposer(s) identified following the evaluation. Upon completion of the negotiation of the Contract(s), the Contract(s) shall be submitted for approval and execution as provided in Section 1.2, Purchases; Power to Act, of the Cook County Health Procurement Policy.
Insurance
Vendors awarded contracts will be required to carry certain levels of insurance in order to do business with Cook County. Insurance coverage required normally includes Worker’s Compensation, General Liability, Auto Liability, and in some cases, Professional Liability. The County will normally require occurrence-based coverage, and in all cases, the County of Cook is required to be named as an additional insured.
Terms and Conditions

Vendors bidding/proposing on contracts will be required to comply with several standard requirements in terms of submitting bid responses, and ultimately for the performance of any contract which may be awarded to them. Cook County Health Instructions to Bidders and RFP responders, General Conditions (for Supply and Service) and Execution Forms may be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the links shown below.

  • Contract Instructions to Bidders and General Conditions
  • Instructions to Bidders and General Conditions
  • Execution (EDS) Forms

Minority/Women Business Enterprises

Local Minority/Women Business Enterprises are encouraged to submit bids for Cook County contracts.

The County’s utilization for non-public work contracts is 25% for Minority Business Enterprises and 10% for Women Business Enterprises; and applies to contract opportunities for $25,000 and over. Minority-owned and women-owned businesses are encouraged to contact the Office of Contract Compliance (312) 603-5502 for more information or the County’s Minority/Women Business Enterprises certificate program.
For more information regarding Cook County’s Minority/Women Business Enterprise certification please click here. 

Ethics Requirements

Vendors doing business with or seeking to do business with Cook County are not allowed to make contributions in the aggregate amount exceeding $1,500.00 to any candidate for County office or elected County official during a single candidacy, or to an elected official of the County during any non-elected year of his or her term.

Vendors are not allowed to make contributions in the aggregate amount exceeding $3,000.00 to any candidate for County office or elected County official during an election year.

Doing Business with Cook County Health
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