PROPOSED STATE OF ILLINOIS RULES AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESS

Following are proposed rules of possible interest to small businesses published in the August 25, 2006 Illinois Register. During the 45-day comment period, individuals have an opportunity to express their support or opposition to the rule. To submit comments or to learn more about the proposed rules, contact Katy Khayyat at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Entrepreneurship Network Information Center via e-mail at Katy.Khayyat@Illinois.gov or call (800) 252-2923 or (217) 785-8020.

The following proposed regulation will impact construction management firms seeking construction projects from the Capital Development Board:

The Capital Development Board proposed two new parts titled “Prequalification of Construction Managers” (44 Ill. Adm. Code 990; 30 Ill. Reg. 13925) and “Selection of Construction Managers” (44 Ill. Adm. Code 1025; 30 Ill. Reg. 1025) to implement a recent public act amending the Illinois Procurement Code to regulate construction manager (CM) services. Part 990 concerns selection of responsible construction managers for potential CDB projects. Application procedures are prescribed, with CDB maintaining the confidentiality of information submitted to the agency. Potential firms must update their status concerning such topics as change in business structure or address, terminated contracts, financial difficulties, etc. Full disclosure must be provided in accordance with the ethics and conflict of interest disclosure article of the Procurement Code. Evaluation criteria that CDB will employ are listed, but not given a value. Suspension and debarment protocols are stated, including 17 possible events that may imperil previously granted prequalification status (e.g. failure to timely submit required documents, comply with CDB directives). More narrowly restricted events may warrant interim or immediate suspension (e.g. threat to the public interest or safety, criminal charges being filed). CDB procedures in the event of adverse CDB prequalification actions are detailed. Part 1025 concerns course selection methods employed by CDB for construction manager services. The Board will select a CM for a project from among 3 prequalified CMs submitted by a selection committee within CDB. Factors that may be considered by the committee include: the CM’s qualifications, training and experience of the CM’s personnel, prior performance by the CM on CDB projects, proximity of the project to the CM’s place of business, and references. For CM project fees estimated to exceed $300,000, interviews must be conducted by the selection committee, and CDB may appoint staff to perform a preliminary screening of potential CM candidates to provide a preliminary ranking for the committee’s consideration. Notice of a request for proposals for a CM will be posted in the CDB Procurement Bulletin in accordance with Procurement Code time frames. CMs are not allowed to bid on or be awarded a construction contract for which pre-construction CM services have been provided but may do so if the original CM contract authorized “basic services” to be provided.

Bottom Line: The rulemaking provides a process and standards for prequalifying construction management firms, as well as standards for modification, suspension or denial of prequalification and reasons for debarment. For more information, contact Fredrick Hahn, Chief Counsel, CDB at (217) 792-0700.

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Upcoming Safety Seminars for Business Owners, Plant Managers, Safety Professionals and Those with Responsibility for OSHA compliance:

DCEO is a sponsor of a series of seminars for businesses to learn about safety and health for their workplace and workers. These seminars will be held at EIGER lab in Rockford, IL. Advance registration is required. To register or to find out more, call EDGE at (815) 316-6367, or email rsvp@edge-ni-org.

September 6: OSHA How Safety Committees (Should) Work

October 18: Safety and Health Management Systems for Small Business

November 15: Workplace Inspections—An Introduction to Identifying, Analyzing and Controlling Workplace Hazards

December 13: Delivering Presentations& Training (How To)

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11^th Annual Southern Illinois Economic Development Conference

The 11^th Annual Southern Illinois Economic Development Conference will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2009 at the Rend Lake Resort & Conference Center at Wayne Fitzgerell State Park in Whittington.

The theme for this conference is “Enhancing Southern Illinois” and the sessions and presentations include: The New Economy, Innovators and Inventors: Successful Strategies, Southern Illinois Connect, and How to Deliver this New Economy.

The price is $39 per person before September 10, and $49 after September 10. To register or for more information, go to: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/conferences/siedc.

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New Hazardous Waste Form Required

Effective 9/5/06, a new USEPA hazardous waste manifest form must be used by hazardous waste generators, transporters, and disposal/treatment facilities for new shipments of hazardous waste. Illinois requires non-hazardous special waste to be manifested on the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest. Illinois generators and out-of-state generators sending non-hazardous waste to an Illinois receiving facility must use a manifest for all shipments of non-hazardous special waste. All non-hazardous special waste should be identified as either Class A or Class B.

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 Equipping Executives with International Skills Critical for Success

The State of Illinois Certificate in International Business and Certified Global business Professional Series is designed for executives, professionals, senior staff, and entrepreneurs who would like to improve their knowledge and strategies in international business. This program is suitable for individuals new to international business, as the curriculum assumes no prior international experience. The course also assists in preparation for the NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) exam.

The program will be concentrating on today’s international environment; cultural environment; international economics, marketing, trade finance, tax and legal considerations, human resource management and strategic planning.

The program will be offered in two locations, Chicago and Peoria. The Chicago dates are Sep. 8 and 22, October 5 and 20 and November 3. The Peoria dates are: September 15 and 29; October 13 and 27; and November 10.

To register, go to the program website (www.bradley.edu/turnercenter/cib) or contact the International Trade Center at Bradley University at (309) 677-3075 or tce@bradley.edu.

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IRS Fast Track Settlement for Small Business/ Self Employed Organizations

The IRS Small Business/Self Employed (SB/SE) Fast Track Settlement provides an opportunity for small business/self employed taxpayers to use Fast Track Settlement (FTS) to expedite case resolution at the earliest opportunity within the IRS’s Small Business/ Self Employed organization (SB/SE). The SB/SE FTS will enable SB/SE taxpayers that currently have unagreed issues in at least one open year under examination to work together with SB/SE and the Office of Appeals to resolve outstanding disputed issues while the case is still in SB/SE jurisdiction.

For further information regarding this, contact either Thomas s. Ryan, SB/SE Program Analyst, at (717) 213-3810 or Nancy J. Talajkowski, Appeals Program Analyst at (415) 227 – 5007.

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IAAP/IEPA Clean Construction/Demolition Debris Training Seminar

Companies currently operating a CCDD fill site, and companies that contemplate going into the CCDD acceptance business, will benefit from the timely and informative topics covered by this seminar.

On October 3, 2006, the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct a training seminar designed to help you comply with the state’s clean construction or demolition debris fill regulatory program.

Training will include: Review of IEPA CCDD Rules; How to Use and Calibrate PID/FID; Pre-Screening of CCDD Sources; Screening/Rejection of Loads; Visual Inspection of Incoming CCDD and Documentation/Salvaging.

Enrollment is limited to the first 100 people who register. Rooms are blocked at the Springfield Crowne Plaza for the night of Oct. 2. Call (217) 529-7777 for reservations and be sure to request the special room rates before September 11, 2006.

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18^th Annual Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference

The 18^th annual Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference will be held September 18-20, 2006. Topics to be covered include: industrial hygiene; safety in construction; safety in general industry; safety management; environmental safety; and emergency preparedness.

This conference is for employers, employees and all others interested in safety and health. The conference will be held at Northern Illinois University—Naperville. The presentations will be on the most current issues in safety and health.