SURVEYING-SMALL CONTRACTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Cristina Castro

Raises the small-contract threshold to $75,000, exempting contracts below that from formal qualifications-based selection and speeding A/E and land surveying procurements.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Main purpose

SB 1868 raises the dollar threshold that defines a “small contract” under the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Specifically, it increases the cutoff for contracts exempted from the Act’s formal qualifications‑based selection requirements from $25,000 to $75,000 (estimated basic professional services fee).

Key provisions

Amends 30 ILCS 535/45 (Section 45) by replacing "$25,000" with "$75,000."

As a result, the requirements in Sections 25, 30, and 35 of the Act — which the bill’s synopsis identifies as rules governing public notice, evaluations, and selection procedures for qualifications‑based selection — will no longer apply to architectural, engineering, and land surveying contracts whose estimated basic professional services fee is less than $75,000.

Who or what is affected

State agencies and other public entities subject to the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act (i.e., entities that procure A/E and land surveying services under this statute).

Firms and practitioners in architecture, engineering, and land surveying bidding on public projects under the new $75,000 threshold.

Procurement and contracting staff at affected public bodies who administer A/E and surveying procurements.

Practical effect and potential impacts

Administrative relief: More small‑value contracts (those under $75,000) would be exempted from the Act’s formal public‑notice, evaluation, and selection procedures, reducing time and paperwork for both procuring entities and consultants.

Flexibility in procurement: Agencies could use alternative procurement or contracting methods (e.g., simplified solicitations, direct negotiation) for these smaller projects, subject to other applicable procurement rules.

Competition and transparency considerations: Expanding the exemption may speed small projects but could reduce formal competition, oversight, and transparency that the qualifications‑based process provides.

Fiscal impact: Likely minimal direct budgetary effect; primary impacts are procedural and administrative.

Legislative status and timeline (selected)

Filed/Introduced: February–March 2025 (filed by Sen. Cristina Castro).

Passed Senate (as amended) and reported engrossed: April 24, 2025.

Subsequent actions: Read and referred to committee(s) in the other chamber; on record as Rule 3‑9(a) / Re‑referred to Assignments (status as of April 11, 2025).

Statutory reference amended: 30 ILCS 535/45 (effective language would replace $25,000 with $75,000).

(For full text and bill history consult the Illinois General Assembly bill information and session journal.)

Bill