SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PREFERENCE
INSTRUCTIONS
In accordance with Section 34-241 of the Cook County Procurement Code, the Chief Procurement Officer (“CPO”) shall give a preference of five
percent (5%) to a Responsible and Responsive Social Enterprise, as defined by the Cook County Procurement Code, requesting a preference
for Bids. All Bidders who are requesting this preference must fully complete this form and supply all requested information. Failure to
provide fully comply with these instructions will result in the preference not being granted. The CPO reserves the right to request additional
information to ascertain a Bidder’s status as a Social Enterprise.
DEFINITIONS
County Marketplace means the six-county region, currently the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will.
Disadvantaged refers to individuals who are mentally, physically, economically, or educationally disadvantaged, including, but not limited to,
individuals who are living below the poverty line, developmentally disabled, mentally ill, substance abusers, recovering substance abusers, elderly
and in need of hospice care, gang members, on welfare, or people with arrest or conviction records.
Earned Revenue Strategies means revenue realized by a non-profit private sector entity, or a business unit of a private sector entity excluding
government grants, government contracts and philanthropic support.
Social Enterprise means a Person which has its principal place of business and a majority of its regular, full-time work force located within the
County Marketplace on the date a bid is submitted, and which is:
1. An Illinois benefit corporation subject to the Benefit Corporation Act (805 ILCS 40/1 et seq.);
2. An Illinois low-profit limited liability company subject to Section 1-26 of the Limited Liability Company Act (805 ILCS 180/1-
26); or
3. A nonprofit entity, a private-sector entity, or any business unit of a private sector entity which maintains separate books and
records which (a) uses earned revenue strategies, either exclusively as a business or as a significant part (at least 51%) of
earned revenue, and (b) directly addresses social needs either (1) through its goods and/or services or (2) by employing a
workforce of which 51% are disadvantaged, or (3) both. At any time, upon request of the County, for a period of three (3)
years following the termination of the contract, Bidder must provide documentation that it meets the requirements
of this provision.
REQUEST FOR PREFERENCE
☐ Bidder is requesting to receive the Social Enterprise Preference as an Illinois Benefit Corporation. By requesting this preference, the
Bidder certifies that is it is an Illinois Benefit Corporation and has included a true and correct copy of its Articles of Incorporation (and
any Articles of Amendment thereto) and most recent Benefit Report pursuant to 805 ILCS 40/5.01
☐ Bidder is requesting to receive the Social Enterprise Preference as an Illinois Low Profit Limited Liability Company (“L3C”). By requesting
this preference, the Bidder certifies that it is an L3C and has included a true and correct copy of its Articles of Organization (and any
Articles of Amendment thereto) and its most recent annual report filed with the Attorney General pursuant to 805 ILCS 180/1-26(d) and
760 ILCS 55/7.
☐ Bidder is requesting to receive the Social Enterprise Preference as an social enterprise that is neither a Benefit Corporation or an L3C,
but uses earned revenue strategies, either exclusively as a business or as a significant part of a nonprofit’s revenue stream and directly
addresses social needs either (1) through its goods and/or services or (2) by employing a workforce, of which 51% are disadvantaged,
or (3) both. By requesting this preference, the Bidder certifies it meets this definition and has supplied a true and correct copy of: (1)
Articles of Incorporation or Organization (and any Articles of Amendment thereto, as applicable); and (2) a sworn statement setting forth
how its goods and services directly impact the social needs of people who are disadvantaged and/or that at least 51% of its direct labor
in its past fiscal year was provided by persons who are disadvantaged.
Bidder (please print or type) Title
Signature Date
Email address Phone Number
Subscribed to and sworn before me
This day of , 20 . My Commission Expires:
Notary Seal
Notary Public Signature
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signature
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