(70 ILCS 2605/11.24) (from Ch. 42, par. 331.24)

Sec. 11.24. (a) A person or business entity shall be disqualified from doing business with The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago for a period of 5 years from the date of conviction or entry of a plea or admission of guilt, if that person or business entity:

1. has been convicted of an act of bribery or attempting to bribe an officer or employee of the federal government or of a unit of any state or local government or school district in that officer's or employee's official capacity; or

2. has been convicted of an act of bid-rigging or attempting to rig bids as defined in the Federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Clayton Act; or

3. has been convicted of bid-rigging or attempting to rig bids under the laws of the State of Illinois or any other state; or

4. has been convicted of an act of price-fixing or attempting to fix prices as defined by the Federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Clayton Act; or

5. has been convicted of price-fixing or attempting to fix prices under the laws of the State of Illinois or any other state; or

6. has been convicted of defrauding or attempting to defraud the Federal government or a unit of any state or local government or school district; or

7. has made an admission of guilt of such conduct as set forth in subsections 1 through 6 above, which admission is a matter of record, whether or not such person or business entity was subject to prosecution for the offense or offenses admitted to; or

8. has entered a plea of nolo contendere to charges of bribery, price-fixing, bid-rigging, or fraud as set forth in subsections 1 through 6 above.

(b) "Business entity" as used in this section means a corporation, partnership, trust, association, unincorporated business or individually owned business.

(c) A business entity shall be disqualified if the following persons are convicted of, have made an admission of guilt, or enter a plea of nolo contendere to a disqualifying act described in paragraph (a), subsections 1 through 6, regardless of whether or not the disqualifying act was committed on behalf or for the benefit of such business entity:

(1) a person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of its outstanding shares; or

(2) a member of its board of directors; or

(3) an agent, officer or employee of such business entity.

(d) Disqualification Procedure. After bids are received, whether in response to a solicitation for bids or public advertising for bids, if it shall come to the attention of the director of procurement and materials management that a bidder has been convicted, made an admission of guilt, a plea of nolo contendere, or otherwise falls within one or more of the categories set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section, the director of procurement and materials management shall notify the bidder by certified mail, return receipt requested, that such bidder is disqualified from doing business with the Sanitary District. The notice shall specify the reasons for disqualification.

(e) Review Board. A review board consisting of 3 individuals shall be appointed by the Executive Director of the Sanitary District. The board shall select a chairman from its own members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum and all matters coming before the board shall be determined by a majority. All members of the review board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed actual expenses.

(f) Review. The director of procurement and materials management's determination of disqualification shall be final as of the date of the notice of disqualification unless, within 10 calendar days thereafter, the disqualified bidder files with the director of procurement and materials management a notice of appeal. The notice of appeal shall specify the exceptions to the director of procurement and materials management's determination and shall include a request for a hearing, if one is desired. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the director of procurement and materials management shall provide a copy to each member of the review board. If the notice does not contain a request for a hearing, the director of procurement and materials management may request one within 5 days after receipt of the notice of appeal. If a hearing is not requested, the review board may, but need not, hold a hearing.

If a hearing is not requested, the review board, unless it decides to hold a hearing, shall review the notice of disqualification, the notice of appeal and any other supporting documents which may be filed by either party. Within 15 days after the notice of appeal is filed, the review board shall either affirm or reverse the director of procurement and materials management's determination of disqualification and shall transmit a copy to each party by certified mail, return receipt requested.

If there is a hearing, the hearing shall commence within 15 days after the filing of the notice of appeal. A notice of hearing shall be transmitted to the director of procurement and materials management and the disqualified bidder not later than 12 calendar days prior to the hearing date, by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Evidence shall be limited to the factual issues involved. Either party may present evidence and persons with relevant information may testify, under oath, before a certified reporter. Strict rules of evidence shall not apply to the proceedings, but the review board shall strive to elicit the facts fully and in credible form. The disqualified bidder may be represented by an attorney.

Within 10 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing, the review board shall make a finding as to whether or not the reasons given in the director of procurement and materials management's notice of disqualification apply to the bidder, and an appropriate order shall be entered. A copy of the order shall be transmitted to the director of procurement and materials management and the bidder by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(g) All final decisions of the review board shall be subject to review under the Administrative Review Law.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, the Sanitary District may do business with any person or business entity when it is determined by the director of procurement and materials management to be in the best interest of the Sanitary District, such as, but not limited to contracts for materials or services economically procurable only from a single source.

(Source: P.A. 95-923, eff. 1-1-09.)