Section 1110.80  Selecting Contracts for Certification

a)         The State Superintendent shall review each application received and determine whether each contract meets the criteria set forth in Section 1110.40 of this Part.  Of those meeting the criteria, the State Superintendent may select one or more contracts for certification based upon the following factors:

1)         The number of educational entities eligible to participate in the contracts that are eligible for certification;

2)         The qualifications of the vendors involved in the eligible contracts;

3)         The level of serviceability of the eligible contracts;

4)         The quality of the supplies or services offered through the eligible contracts and the extent to which the supplies or services are appropriate for use by educational entities;

5)         The comparative extent to which the costs of supplies or services are discounted, based on a standard index or other objectively verifiable criterion;

6)         The contracting entity's use of businesses owned by minorities, females, and persons with disabilities to provide supplies or services under the contract;

7)         The simplicity of the process for educational entities' participation in the contract; and

8)         The extent to which resources of ISBE would be needed for overseeing the administration of the contract through the education purchasing program.

b)         When choosing among two or more substantially similar contracts for certification, the State Superintendent shall give preference to contracts awarded to Illinois-based companies or, if no eligible contract involves an Illinois-based company, to the contract with the company employing the largest number of Illinois residents.

c)         The State Superintendent shall base the determination regarding the number of eligible contracts that will be certified in each category at any given time on adequate coverage of the various geographic areas of the State and the provision of an adequate range of supplies and services to meet the needs of Illinois educational entities.