This subsection does not prohibit a person or business from submitting a bid or offer or entering into a contract if the person or business: (i) initiates a communication with an employee to provide general information about products, services, or industry best practices, (ii) responds to a communication initiated by an employee of the State for the purposes of providing information to evaluate new products, trends, services, or technologies, or (iii) asks for clarification regarding a solicitation, so long as there is no competitive advantage to the person or business and the question and answer, if material, are posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin as an addendum to the solicitation.
Nothing in this Section prohibits a vendor developing technology, goods, or services from bidding or offering to supply that technology or those goods or services if the subject demonstrated to the State represents industry trends and innovation and is not specifically designed to meet the State's needs.
Nothing in this Section prohibits a person performing construction-related services from initiating contact with a business that performs construction for the purpose of obtaining market costs or production time to determine the estimated costs to complete the construction project.
For purposes of this subsection (e), "business" includes all individuals with whom a business is affiliated, including, but not limited to, any officer, agent, employee, consultant, independent contractor, director, partner, or manager of a business.
No person or business shall submit specifications to a State agency unless requested to do so by an employee of the State. No person or business who contracts with a State agency to write specifications for a particular procurement need shall submit a bid or proposal or receive a contract for that procurement need.
Nothing in this subsection (e) shall prohibit a person or business from submitting an unsolicited proposal under Section 19 of the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act.
30 ILCS 500/50-10.5