Business Enterprises Owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) Initiative

The City of Chicago is committed to increasing economic opportunities for the disability community through several employment-related initiatives. One such initiative is the Business Enterprises Owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) Program.

About the Program

The Business Enterprises Owned by People with Disabilities (BEPD) Program is a certification aimed at stimulating the utilization of small businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities. Certification enables you to pursue bid opportunities to do business with the City.

Benefits of Becoming Certified with the City of Chicago

Certification opens up new opportunities for your business. A new bid incentive program has been put in place to create more contracting opportunities for BEPDs. City certification lends credibility to your business or organization.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as a BEPD, the business must be located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Lake, or McHenry counties.

Eligibility criteria for individuals and businesses interested in participating in the program are as follows:

A for-profit corporation that is 51% or more owned or operated by one or more persons with disabilities and is certified as a BEPD with the City of Chicago
A non-profit that employs people with disabilities pays at least minimum wage, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more persons with disabilities and directly or indirectly serves persons with disabilities
A person with a disability who is contracting with the City as a sole proprietorship or individually

The Certification Process

Companies interested in applying for certification as a BEPD must first show proof of disability by completing the Schedule G Affidavit and accompanying physician’s statement and submitting it to the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. MOPD reviews the documents to determine if the applicant qualifies as a disabled-owned business. Qualifying companies can then submit the Schedule A Application for certification, as required by W/MBEs. Certification applications submitted with all required documents and complete answers to all questions can be processed within 60 days.

BEPD applications are available at:

The Bid & Bond Room, City Hall, Room 301

The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, City Hall, Room 104

The Department of Procurement Services website