Technical Assistance Program

Program Goal

The Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program is designed to prepare emerging and established transportation-related construction and professional engineering services firms, including small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses to participate on highway and vertical construction contracts.

Program Overview

Participants receive comprehensive, customized business development assistance to build financial understanding and business plan development for increased business stability and growth in the transportation-related construction industry. Services are customized to the assessed strengths, challenges and needs of participating firms.

Programs are either self-paced (participants determine how quickly the program is completed) or cohort-based (a group setting that invites a collaborative learning environment). In addition, providers offer support to help firms grow their businesses through networking events and creating partnerships on future contracts, including the Tollway’s Partnering for Growth Program.

Construction

The Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program offers construction firms guidance and feedback on general business and construction-specific operations including:

  • Strategic planning
  • Estimating
  • Assistance with IDOT pre-qualification applications
  • Post-award services

Professional Engineering Services

The Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program offers professional engineering services firms guidance and feedback on general business and engineering-specific operations including:

  • Statement of Interest preparation
  • Post-award services

Hear from Program Participants

Emerging Technologies

Enlight Consulting

Foundation Mechanics

AllState Concrete

How to Get Involved

The Technical Assistance program is administered by Inner-City Underwriting Agency, Inc. and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Our Technical Assistance providers are available to help construction firms and professional engineering firms interested in working on transportation-related planning and construction projects. They offer a range of services for businesses in areas across the Tollway system. These providers manage programs targeted to regional needs and objectives.

  1. Submit a completed Technical Assistance Program application to one of the providers listed below.
  2. An assessment will be conducted by the provider to determine applicant’s needs and review program guidelines.
  3. A technical assistance plan will be developed to assist participants with business needs.


 

Inner-City Underwriting
Elise Roper
312-690-2812
Email

Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Keren Malca
312-425-9500
Email

 

Applicants who do not meet program criteria will be referred to other resources.

 

Where to Go

  • 6785 Weaver Road, Suite1D, Rockford (map)
  • 700 S. Lewis Avenue, Suite 230, Waukegan (map)
  • 105 E. Galena Boulevard, Suite 802, Aurora (map)
  • 4801 Southwick Drive, Suite 610, Matteson (map)
  • 839 W 79th Street, Chicago (map)
  • 8745 Higgins Road, Suite 110, Chicago (map)
  • 3843 Ogden Avenue, Chicago (map)
  • 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212, Chicago (map)
  • 5113 S. Harper Avenue, Suite 2C, Chicago (map)
  • 839 W. 79th Street, Chicago (currently operating out of temporary office at 7901 S. Racine Avenue, Chicago)

Services We Provide

Core Services

  • Access to working capital
  • Accounting/cash-flow analysis
  • Addressing payment issues
  • Bidding and estimating as a prime contractor/subcontractor
  • Statement of Interest development as a prime consultant/subconsultant
  • Bonding and insurance
  • Business with the State
  • Bid checklist
  • Post-award compliance/pre-NTP
  • Certified payroll
  • Job Order Contracting (JOC)
  • Obtaining and using certifications

 

  • Preparing to seek financing
  • Prequalification - IDOT/CDB/Other
  • Project budgets
  • Project management
  • Safety plans and field operations
  • Statement of Interest proposal development
  • Understanding of contract pre-award requirements
    • IDOL labor laws
    • Legal contracting
    • PLA/bargaining agreements
  • Workforce Planning

Supplemental Services

  • Addressing payment issues
  • Bid analysis
  • Contract walk-through
  • Human resource management
  • Emerging technology
  • Equipment and resource needs
  • Filing liens
  • Marketing
  • Safety plans and field operations
  • Statement of Interest proposal development

Application Requirements

  • Transportation-related firms – heavy-highway, vertical or professional services. 
  • A minimum of three years in business 
    • Firms who are in the initial phase of business (less than 2 years of experience) are considered “start- ups” and will be provided the resources of the Illinois Small Business Development Center network. 
    • Firms whose owners have more than 5 years of experience in similar construction or professional engineering field may be considered on a case by case basis. 
    • Minimum of $100,000 annual gross revenues. 
    • Experience in bidding – prime or subcontractor. 
  • Ability to obtain bonding. 
  • Cooperate with the application, assessment and Technical Assistance Plan and respond to inquiries with documentation and information as requested. In particular, it is critical that participant firms can commit that staff will consistently participate in any cohort or training curricula through to completion.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to participate in economic growth, business development and training activities as recommended by the TA vendor.

 

Application