4-Sole Source Justification App Block Club.pdf

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Attached to
Sole Source Public Review - Newspaper Subscription
Solicitation number
WM2619
Issued by
Illinois

About this file

This is a Sole Source Justification Application submitted by City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) requesting authorization for a sole source procurement from Block Club Chicago. The requestor, Laura Clark from the Academic Systems/District Office, seeks to provide CCC credit students with free subscriptions to Block Club Chicago's news service, enabling students to receive information about news and events in their neighborhoods and at their respective City College campuses. The initial contract term is valued at $50,000, with no specified number of potential renewals or renewal period length detailed in the application.

The justification for sole source procurement is based on Block Club Chicago's unique position as the only Chicago news outlet that reports comprehensively across all neighborhoods, allowing students to customize their news feed by neighborhood and school location. CCC states that competitive alternatives were not evaluated, and the cost structure is approximately $1 per student annually. The application indicates that the price was negotiated directly with the vendor to ensure fair value, and approval is contingent upon certification by Department/College Representative Laura Clark, VC/College President Mark Potter, and Procurement Officer Angela Arrington-Jones. The application was digitally signed on August 24, 2026. The primary funding source is identified as Educational Funds, with the stated financial impact of denial being CCC's inability to provide students with quick and easy access to localized news and updates.

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Sole Source Justification Application

Rev. 9/2025

C I T Y C O L L E G E S O F C H I C A G O

Sole Source Justification Application

Why are you requesting a Sole Source Waiver?

☐Only one known source that can provide the commodity or service. Procurement of public utility services.

☐Compatibility (e.g. CCC requires a specific piece of equipment to be compatible with an existing equipment system).

☐Public safety concerns.

☐Limited or proprietary systems (i.e. additional licenses, updates, specialized replacement parts, etc.).

☐A professional expert is requested.

☐Sales territories or product availability within limited geographic boundaries.

☐Other _______________________________________________________

If your request does not meet any of these criteria, STOP, consult with Procurement services to identify an alternative procurement method.

Name of requestor:

Department/School:

Project title:

Email address:

Contract or Board Report number:

Vendor:

Value of initial term, or if a renewal, value of this renewal $:

(Attach the proposal received)

Number of potential/remaining renewals:

Length of each renewal in months:

Value of all/remaining renewals:$

Actual Estimated

Choose one of the following:

New Sole Source Sole Source renewal Change Order or Amendment to an existing Sole Source

Provide a description of the supplies or services required

Laura Clark lclark89@ccc.edu

Acaemic Systems/District Office

Block Club Chicago Subscription Block Club Chicago

50,000

Block Club Chicago will provide Credit students the opportunity to subscribe to their news subscription for free and receive information about news happening in their neighborhood and where they attend a City College.

Rev. 9/2025

C I T Y C O L L E G E S O F C H I C A G O

Select the type of funding to be used: Educational Funds Capital Funds Grant Funds

Other (Explain):

This purchase is economically only available from a single source because it is:

Art or Entertainment Services or Athletic Events Compatibility with existing/current equipment, accessories, replacement parts or service Critical changes to the existing contract are necessary and best accomplished by the original contract holder Federal/CCC Grant requires contract with specific vendor

(attach Grant Award Agreement) Item is copyrighted or patented and the item is only available from the holder

Copyright or Patent Number(s):

Items are needed for trial use or testing

Media for advertising

Organization memberships (Dues, fees, conference charges including mandated travel and related expenses)

Public utility regulated services

Radio and television broadcast rights software license/ upgrade/maintenance

Other (Explain):

Has CCC purchased these supplies/services in the past? Yes No

If yes, STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT CONTRACT AND WORKING BACKWARD, for the entire relationship with this vendor for this supply or service, list each term, value, short description and type of procurement of each:

Term Term From: Term To: Value Description Vendor Selection

One Two

Three Four Five Six

Seven Eight Nine Ten

If more than 10 years, explain:

N/A

Rev. 9/2025

C I T Y C O L L E G E S O F C H I C A G O

Business Rationale

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the need for the supplies or services:

2. What are the unique features of the supplies or services that are not available in any other product or by any other vendor?

Provide specific, quantifiable factors/qualifications:

3. If professional services, what are the unique qualifications the vendor possess?

Provide specific. measureable factors/qualifications:

4. Were alternative supplies or services evaluated? Yes No

a. If yes, what were they and why were they unacceptable? If no, why were alternatives not evaluated? Please be specific with regard to features, characteristics, requirements, capabilities and compatibility:

5. What efforts were made to get the best possible price?

Block Club Chicago will provide Credit students the opportunity to subscribe to their news subscription for free and receive information about news happening in their neighborhood and where they attend a City College.

They are unique as a Chicago news outlet that reports in all neighborhoods and students will be able to select their neighborhood and school location(s) to receive current news about what is happening in their area.

This was discussed with the vendor to ensure the service provided would amount to a fair cost to CCC to assist providing all Credit students access to the news.

Rev. 9/2025

C I T Y C O L L E G E S O F C H I C A G O

6. Will this purchase obligate the CCC to this vendor for future purchases such as maintenance, licensing or continuing needs? Yes No If yes, please provide details regarding future obligations and/or needs:

7. Why is the price for this purchase considered to be fair and reasonable?

8. If this is a renewal, describe why circumstances are such that competitive selection is still not an alternative since awarding the original contract:

9. What will be the financial or other impact to CCC if this sole source is not approved and a competitive solicitation is required?

Department/College Representative Signature Required I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source /Bid Waiver Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct.

Department/College Representative Signature Printed Name Date

Department/College Representative Signature Printed Name Date

VC/ College President Signature

Procurement Approval and Signature

Printed Name Date

Printed Name Date

It amounts to around $1 per student per year for a subscription.

CCC will not be able to provide students with this opportunity to easily and quickly access news and updates

Laura Clark 8/3/2026 | 12:20:33 PM CDT

8/3/2026 | 2:02:33 PM CDTMark Potter

Angela Arrington-Jones 8/24/2026 | 11:03:10 AM CDT

Sole Source Justification Application
Business Rationale
2026-08-24T16:58:52+0000
Digitally verifiable PDF exported from www.docusign.com

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .