a) Businesses owned and controlled by individuals in the following eligible groups may submit applications for certification:

1. 1) African American – a person having origins in any of the black racial groups in Africa.
2. 2) Hispanic – a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central American or the Caribbean (regardless of race).
3. 3) American Indian or Alaskan Native – a person having origins in any of the original people of North America.
4. 4) Asian American – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent or the Pacific Islands.
5. 5) Female – a person who is a citizen or lawful, permanent resident of the United States, and who is of the female gender.
6. 6) Person with a disability.

b) MBE, FBE and PBE refer to for-profit enterprises regardless of form of organization (sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation). However, not-for-profit entities that meet the definition of a sheltered workshop for the disabled in accordance with Section 45-35 of the Illinois Procurement Code [30 ILCS 500] will also be classified as PBE.

(Recodified from Section 10.40 of 44 Ill. Adm. Code 10 (Central Management Services) pursuant to P.A. 101-657, at 47 Ill. Reg. 279)