SBE: Sole Source: The Center

The Illinois State Board of Education's Chief Education Officer has awarded a sole source contract to The Illinois Resource Center valued at $4.2 million for the delivery of English Learner professional development and technical assistance services. The contract runs for two years from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with no renewal options. Services are delivered statewide across Illinois, with particular emphasis on Chicago Public Schools and school districts located in Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties. The award was made under the authority of 105 ILCS 5/14C-1, which mandates that English Learner professional development services be provided by a not-for-profit entity meeting specific geographic and experiential criteria that The Illinois Resource Center uniquely satisfies.

The contract deliverables include a comprehensive professional development program encompassing 56 workshops, 12 webinars, four Administrator Academies, an annual State Bilingual Director's meeting, and a Bilingual Parent Summit expected to serve approximately 1,500 parents. These services target educators and administrators serving English Learner populations throughout Illinois. The pricing structure is non-negotiable and statutorily mandated to maintain spending levels at or above Fiscal Year 2017 amounts. The procurement was conducted as a sole source award without competitive bidding, with funding provided through state appropriated funds. The Illinois State Board of Education intends to conduct full competitive procurement in subsequent fiscal years to evaluate emerging alternatives.