Navigating Public Bidding Requirements Under the Illinois School Code
By Kenneth M. Florey
Partner
Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd.
Howard Metz
Partner
Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd.
Christopher R. Gorman
Attorney
Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd.
As the recent Illinois legislative session wound down, school business officials had reason to be excited. On March 3, 2022, the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 4393, which introduced a new, more-flexible model of value-based bidding criteria for school districts purchasing goods or services under Section 10-20.21 of the Illinois School Code.
However, by the time the 102nd General Assembly adjourned on April 8, 2022, HB 4393 remained stalled in the Senate. Legislators instead decided to approve much narrower reforms for food service contracts found in House Bill (HB 4813), which Governor Pritzker signed into law on June 29, 2022. A value-based bidding model will need to be reintroduced when the legislature convenes next year before public bidding criteria can be changed. If legislation is not reintroduced, school business officials will be forced to navigate the complexities of public bidding under Section 10-20.21 and its lowest, responsive and responsible criteria for at least another year.