Section 2600.405  Responsibility

a)         Contracts are to be made only with responsible vendors unless no responsible vendor is available to meet the State's needs.  If there is doubt about responsibility, and if a bond or other security would adequately protect the State's interests, then that vendor may be awarded a contract upon receipt of the bond or other security.  SBEL may use any prequalified bidder list maintained by CMS.

b)         Standards.  Factors to be considered in determining whether the standard of responsibility has been met may include, but are not limited to, whether a prospective vendor:

1)         has available the appropriate financial, material, equipment, facility, and personnel resources and expertise (or the ability to obtain them) necessary to meet all contractual requirements (the Procurement Officer may designate a level of financial resource below which the vendor will be deemed "not responsible");

2)         is able to comply with required or proposed delivery or performance schedules, taking into consideration all existing commercial and governmental commitments;

3)         has a satisfactory record of performance.  Vendors who are or have been deficient in current or recent contract performance in dealing with the State or other customers may be deemed "not responsible" unless the deficiency is shown to have been beyond the reasonable control of the vendor;

4)         has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics.  Vendors who are under investigation or indictment for criminal or civil actions that bear on the particular procurement or that create a reasonable inference or appearance of a lack of integrity on the part of the vendor may be declared not responsible for the particular procurement;

5)         has supplied all necessary information in connection with the inquiry concerning responsibility;

6)         has a current Public Contracts number from the Illinois Department of Human Rights, pursuant to 44 Ill. Adm. Code 750.210, if required or is otherwise statutorily barred from contracting with the State.  Proof of application for a Public Contracts number prior to opening of bids or proposals will be sufficient for an initial determination;

7)         is current in payment of all State of Illinois taxes, including the unemployment insurance tax.

c)         The prospective vendor shall supply information requested by the Procurement Officer concerning the responsibility of the vendor.  The State may supplement this information from other sources and may require additional documentation at any time. If the vendor fails to supply the requested information, the Procurement Officer shall base the determination of responsibility upon any available information, or may find the prospective vendor nonresponsible.

d)         Upon request, the prospective vendor shall submit evidence that it possesses necessary financing, equipment, facilities or expertise or that it has an acceptable plan to subcontract for such necessary items.

e)         If a vendor who otherwise would have been awarded a contract is found nonresponsible, a written determination of nonresponsibility setting forth the basis of the finding shall be prepared by the CPO or the SPO.   The final determination shall be made part of the procurement file.

f)         Vendors not having a history of performance may be considered responsible if no other disqualifying factors exist.  A bond or other security may be required of such vendors.

g)         Vendors who are newly formed business concerns having substantially the same owners, officers, directors, or beneficiaries as a previously existing vendor that has been determined not responsible will also be determined not to be responsible unless the new organization can prove it was not set up for the purpose of avoiding an earlier determination of nonresponsibility.