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Ethics

Procurement Communications Reporting

Illinois State University employees who have material knowledge concerning a procurement matter are required to report procurement communications with a vendor or prospective vendor that a reasonable person would believe was made for the purpose of influencing a procurement decision under consideration or to be considered in the near future.

Please note that University employees who are not involved in a procurement process are not required to report procurement communications under the Procurement Code.

Procurement Activities

Examples of procurement activity that must be reported by University employees who have material knowledge concerning a procurement matter include, but are not limited to:

  • Establishing or defining a procurement need or method of selection;
  • Drafting, reviewing, or preparing specifications, plans, or requirements;
  • Drafting, reviewing, or preparing any invitations for bid, requests for proposals (RFPs), requests for information, sole source procurement justifications, or selection information
  • Evaluating bids/responses/offers;
  • Publishing notices to the Procurement Bulletins;
  • Letting or awarding a contract;
  • Determining the contents of the procurement file or contract file;
  • Resolving protests;
  • Determining inclusion on prequalification lists or prequalification in general;
  • Identifying potential conflicts of interests or the voiding/allowing a contract/bid/offer/subcontract for a conflict of interest;
  • Voiding or allowing a contract/subcontract pursuant to Section 50-50 of the Illinois Procurement Code;
  • Determining firm performance evaluations;
  • Determining suspensions or debarments; and/or
  • Approving change orders or the renewal or extension of an existing contract

Exempt Activities

Examples of procurement activity that need not be reported include those that are:

  • Unsolicited from potential vendors that are not further disseminated or used by the receiving employees in a procurement decision
  • Made in a public forum and/or during a meeting subject to the Open Meetings Act
  • Regarding procedure and practice
  • Between Illinois State University employees
  • Regarding the administration and implementation of an existing contract

Note: change order communications require reporting.

The Procurement Policy Board has charged the Illinois State University Ethics Officer with the responsibility of communicating the procurement reporting requirements and advising employees related to the reporting process. If you believe you have been involved in a communication with an outside party that requires reporting, please consult the Ethics Officer by sending an email detailing your specific situation to Ethics@IllinoisState.edu.

Procurement Communications Reporting System