DHS Sole Source FY27 Colbert Consent Decree Court Monitor

The State of Illinois, Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery, awarded a sole source contract to Crosswinds Consulting, LLC for court monitoring services related to the Colbert v. Pritzker Consent Decree. The contract, valued at $320,000, is effective from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Kathryn DuPree, serving as the independent and impartial Court Monitor appointed by Federal Judge Lefkow on May 27, 2022, will deliver the contracted services at a compensation rate of $300 per hour.

Under this contract, the Court Monitor will evaluate the State's compliance with the Consent Decree requirements, identify areas of non-compliance, mediate disputes between parties, convene monthly stakeholder meetings, and prepare annual and supplemental reports to the Court. The scope of services encompasses monitoring activities, travel expenses, administrative assistance, and consultant support. The sole source procurement is justified based on the federal judicial appointment of the Court Monitor, which renders alternative vendors unavailable. Funding is provided through State Appropriate Funds. This represents a continuation of court-ordered monitoring services that have been engaged annually since October 2017, with this fiscal year award following approvals by the State Purchasing Officer and Chief Procurement Officer in March and April 2026.