Illinois Veterans Business Program

Certification by the Commission on Equity and Inclusion and the Department of Veterans' Affairs that counts an Illinois veteran-owned small business toward the State's goal of at least 3% of contract dollars: 51% owned and controlled by veterans living in Illinois, a home office in Illinois and gross sales under $150 million; the service-disabled category needs a 10% rating.

Also called: IVBP, veteran-owned business, certification, state contracting, 51 percent, procurement, CMS, service-disabled.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

IllinoisState

30 ILCS 500/45-57, in the Illinois Procurement Code, sets the program. The goal: "Not less than 3% of the total dollar amount of State contracts ... shall be established as a goal to be awarded to SDVOSB and VOSB", and subcontracts to such firms count toward it. It is a participation goal, not a price preference. Who qualifies. A veteran-owned small business is "at least 51% owned by one or more qualified veterans living in Illinois", has "its home office in Illinois", and has both facts "factually verified annually"; a service-disabled veteran-owned small business is the same with owners who are qualified service-disabled veterans, meaning "a veteran who has been found to have 10% or more service-connected disability" by VA or the Department of Defense. A small business has "annual gross sales of less than $150,000,000" on its federal income tax return; a larger firm may ask for certification for a particular contract if it shows a significant impact on veteran-owned suppliers or veteran employment. Control must be "real, substantial, and continuing, not pro forma": the power to make the day-to-day and major decisions, not "simple majority or absentee ownership". Who is a veteran here. A member of the U.S. armed forces (or, as a citizen, of allied forces in time of hostilities) who served at least 6 months, or for the duration of hostilities, or was discharged for hardship, or was released for a service-connected disability "and was discharged under honorable conditions". Who certifies. Certification is "a determination made by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and the Commission on Equity and Inclusion" (the Department of Central Management Services no longer does it); the Commission reports the numbers each year and holds at least 2 outreach events a year. A firm also owned by women, minorities or persons with disabilities may be certified in those categories too. Certification has to be in place before a bid to count. There is no rating requirement for the veteran-owned category; the service-disabled category needs 10%.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Illinois Veterans Business Program
Gate	Rule
51% ownership and control by veterans living in Illinois, an Illinois home office and gross sales under $150 million	The gates are at least 51 percent ownership and real, continuing control by one or more qualified veterans living in Illinois, a home office in Illinois and gross sales under $150 million. No rating is needed for the veteran-owned category, so the rating filter never hides this benefit; the service-disabled category needs a 10% rating.
A 10% rating for the service-disabled category	A qualified service-disabled veteran has a service-connected disability of 10% or more found by VA or the Department of Defense. The veteran-owned category needs no rating, so this never hides the entry.

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-24.

What changed then:

Eligibility rule “51% veteran ownership and control, with gross sales under $150 million” renamed “51% ownership and control by veterans living in Illinois, an Illinois home office and gross sales under $150 million”.
Eligibility rule “51% ownership and control by veterans living in Illinois, an Illinois home office and gross sales under $150 million” now reads: “The gates are at least 51 percent ownership and real, continuing control by one or more qualified veterans living in Illinois, a home office in Illinois and gross sales under $150 million. No rating is needed for the veteran-owned category, so the rating filter never hides this benefit; the service-disabled category needs a 10% rating.”
New eligibility rule: “A 10% rating for the service-disabled category”.
And 7 more changes.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.