Mission Statement

The Purchasing Division is responsible for acquiring goods and services for the City of Joliet, the Purchasing Division's objective is that all materials, supplies, equipment, and services required by the City of Joliet are acquired in a timely manner, at the lowest possible cost, consistent with the quality required and in compliance with all applicable procurement legislation. The Purchasing Division handles approximately 2,000 purchase orders and nearly 100 bids in a typical year.

The City of Joliet wishes to extend our sincere gratitude to those vendors with which we have had a continued good working relationship and we look forward to doing business with new vendors as well.

Contact Information:
Purchasing
purchasing@joliet.gov
Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

City of Joliet - Purchasing Division
150 W. Jefferson St.
Joliet, IL 60432
(815) 724-3925
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Advertising of Bids

Bids are currently published in a local paper as prescribed by applicable laws.

Bid/RFP/RFQ Openings

All formally advertised bids/RFPS/RFQs are opened and read publicly. You are invited to attend the openings at any time. Bid openings are conducted in the Office of the City Clerk, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432. 

Bid and/or performance and payment bonds may be required with some bids. Specific instructions and explanations are included in all bid documents.

Bids should always include freight costs in the total bid, unless otherwise stated. No additional charges for freight after the fact are allowed.

Sealed bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope or package plainly marked with the bid number and title. Bids must be received before the date and time set for the bid opening. Bids received after the date and time set for the bid opening will not be considered.   Bids and Proposals should be delivered during working hours Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., except during holidays.

Bids are then tabulated and evaluated, with a recommendation being made to the City Council for award. 

For the most current bids and proposals please go to the Bids and Proposals page.

Special Provisions and General Conditions

Most Public Works contracts require that the most recent version of the City of Joliet’s Special Provisions and General Conditions be incorporated as part of the contract documents. The most current set can be obtained here. 

Prequalification

Certain Public Works projects may require prequalification. If that is the case it will be stated on the bid documents. Public Works Contracts for the most part require Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or Capital Development Board (CDB) Prequalification. This prequalification MUST be mailed to the Purchasing Division, City of Joliet, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432 or emailed to purchasing@joliet.gov or faxed to 815-724-3929 PRIOR to the bid opening. Bids that require prequalification will not be opened unless the proper prequalification is received prior to the bid opening.

Some Utilities contracts might only require a City of Joliet financial prequalification. If a contract only requires City of Joliet prequalification, you can download those documents below. The City of Joliet financial prequalification MUST be renewed yearly. If you are unsure of the expiration date of this prequalification, please contact purchasing@joliet.gov. The current price for City of Joliet prequalification is $175, which offsets the costs for independent auditor review of the documents. Those documents are to be submitted to the Purchasing Division, City of Joliet, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432 at least 6 days prior to the bid opening and must be accompanied by $175 and need to be updated annually.   Please call (815) 724-3925 if you have any questions.

Sales representatives may be received in City departments by appointment to display or discuss products and services. The Purchasing Division is the liaison between vendors and the City. The Purchasing Division is located on the first floor of Joliet City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vendors are welcome at any time, however, it is recommended an appointment be made so as not to disrupt schedules.

How the City Buys

The acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies and services is performed by all City departments and follows certain dollar value guidelines.

Purchases which exceed $25,000 are accomplished by a formal bid process. Maximum competition is sought and the bids are publicly advertised in the legal section of the Joliet Labor Record or other local paper. Award of bids are made by the Joliet City Council.

All purchases made via bid by the City must have an applicable purchase order number. Orders should not be processed without a purchase order number. The City of Joliet is a tax exempt public agency and is not subject to sales tax. The City of Joliet’s federal tax exempt #36-6088568. Taxes are not to be included in any quote, bid or proposal.

How the City Pays

In order to receive payment for goods or services, the vendor is required to submit their invoices to the City of Joliet/Purchasing Division, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432 or emailed to purchasing@joliet.gov. Be sure to include the purchase order number on the invoice and a contact name and/or phone number on the invoice in case there are questions.

Checks are mailed out every other Friday. 

Local vendors should obtain employee identification for purchases made on behalf of the City of Joliet. All employees are issued identification cards. The City of Joliet is tax exempt and The City of Joliet’s federal tax exempt number is #36-6088568.

Bidder’s List

The City of Joliet does not keep bidder’s lists. 

Other Information

The City of Joliet Ethics Ordinance pertains to all purchases for goods or services provided by the City of Joliet. Please click here for Ethics Ordinance and Inspector General Compliance information.

Further, the City of Joliet has adopted the Responsible Bidder's Ordinance.  In addition to any other requirement, unless otherwise expressly stated in a bid solicitation or an award of contract, all bidders must comply with the following requirements in order to submit a bid or be awarded a contract and include satisfactory evidence thereof in its bid.

Member affiliations:
National Institute for Governmental Purchasing 
Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc.
Midwest Association of Public Procurement

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