Through our services, your Illinois Business will learn how to:
•    Conduct market research, find government opportunities, and establish relationships with government agencies.
•    Assist with SAM and other governmental vendor registrations.
•    Read and understand government bid and proposal solicitations.
•    Identify businesses- large and small- to form partnering agreements between firms.
•    Prepare, review, and finalize a bid or proposal.
•    Locate technical information and pricing data.
•    Understand RFID, UID, and packaging standards.
•    Navigate 8(a) HUBZone, WOSB, EDWSOB, DBE certifications and Veteran-owned verification.
•    Prepare for pre-bid conferences, short-list interviews, debriefings and pre-award meetings.
•    Participate in electronic and other Internet-based bid opportunities.
•    Handle post-award contract administration.

1. Bidding Assistance: The Illinois APEX Accelerator will collaborate with clients to establish clear requirements, deadlines, and desired outcomes for potential bids. Additionally, the Illinois APEX Accelerator will assess the client's readiness to participate in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and Government Industrial Base (GIB) at a federal, state, and local level.
2. Certification Support: The Illinois APEX Accelerator will work with clients to develop a government market strategy to identify their most appropriate certifications. Once a certification is identified, the Illinois APEX Accelerator will provide the client a comprehensive outline of the prerequisites and steps to apply for the program.  
3. Government Contracting Opportunities at numerous levels: The Illinois APEX Accelerator will suggest relevant federal, state, and local agencies that offer bids matching the client’s capabilities. The Illinois APEX Accelerator will then analyze the criteria for bid selection to assist the client in assessing their probability to win the contract.
4. Procurement Assistance: The Illinois APEX Accelerator will aid the client in compiling procurement requirements for their own business or for a business they intend to sell products/services to. This will involve framing a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Information (RFI) for purchases from and sales to potential business partners. 
5. Once government contracting readiness has been assessed, you may be referred to the Illinois APEX Accelerators. These specialized programs are designed to provide targeted support and resources for businesses pursuing government contracts. The APEX Accelerators will further equip you with the knowledge, tools, and connections necessary to thrive in the government contracting space.