Yes. The Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program is designed to prepare emerging and established transportation-related construction firms to participate on highway and vertical construction contracts at no cost. Further information is available the Illinois Tollway website at Technical Assistance Program.

Following the public bid opening, the Tollway performs an internal evaluation of all the bids to determine if the bidders meet all the mandatory requirements set forth in the bid documents.  After determining the lowest responsive bidder, the Tollway’s Procurement Buyer will contact the low bidder via email to request additional information needed prior to awarding the contract.  The email will list the additional information requested.  If there are any questions related to information requested, please contact the Buyer. The Buyer will work with Tollway staff to answer any questions.

The typical duration from the public bid opening to the Notice to Proceed is approximately 9-14 weeks. See New Prime Bidder Information.

The Tollway requires insurance to be submitted in order to execute the contract and issue notice to proceed. Insurance should be purchased after the notice of intent to award is sent by the Tollway requesting insurance and bond documentation.

After the requested information is submitted and after the Tollway reviews the documents, the Tollway Buyer may require further discussion or clarifications from the vendor.  After all documents are received and reviewed, the contract will be presented at a monthly Tollway Board meeting.  The Board meeting schedule is provided on the Tollway’s website.  The agenda listing all construction contracts is posted at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.  After Board approval, a public posting of the Notice of Award is placed in BidBuy, which is then followed by internal Tollway signatures approving the contract.  The Notice to Proceed will be email to the vendor and a pre-construction meeting will be scheduled. 

Yes. The Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program is there to assist bidders to be successful in the future.  The Technical Assistance administrators should be able to answer all of your questions.  Further information is available the Illinois Tollway website at Technical Assistance Program.

After the Tollway issues notice to proceed and once the baseline schedule is submitted, 75 percent of Mobilization, but no more than 4.5 percent of the Contract Award Amount will be paid. When 10 percent or more of the Contract Award Amount is earned and submitted on a partial pay estimate, an additional 25 percent of the pay item, but no more than 1.5 percent of the Contract Award Amount, will be paid.

The contractor may purchase materials at any time, but this purchase is at the contractor’s risk until the Tollway issues a notice to proceed.

The contractor may complete submittals at any time after Board award but the work to prepare the submittal and any material purchase is at the contractor’s risk until the Tollway issues a notice to proceed.