EMERGENCY PURCHASE STATEMENT

Page 1 of 3State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement v.26.1

Emergency Purchases are conducted pursuant to 30 ILCS 500/20-30 and 44 Ill. Adm. Code 1.2030.

Zip: 60003State:ILCity:CHICAGOAddress: 100 S. STATE STREET 4TH FLOOR

Vendor: ILLINOIS JOINING FORCES

Zip: 62704State: ILCity:SPRINGFIELDAddress: 833 S SPRING STREET

Division: CENTRAL OFFICEAgency: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Emergency Purchase Details BidBuy Reference #: B- 26-497DVA-CENTR-B-52990

Emergency Condition (select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu below):

To prevent or minimize serious disruption in critical State services that affect health, safety, or collection of substantial State revenues

Provide a description and reasons for needing this emergency purchase:

The emergency purchase is required to ensure the continued provision of Illinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP) services and to prevent any interruption in services to program participants. These services are essential to supporting eligible individuals and maintaining ongoing program operations. An immediate procurement action is necessary because there is insufficient time to complete a competitive solicitation before the current service arrangement expires. To avoid a gap in service delivery and ensure continuity of support for participants, the agency is seeking a short-term emergency purchase while a competitive solicitation is developed and completed for the long-term administration of the program. Without this emergency procurement, participants could experience disruptions in critical services, negatively affecting program outcomes and agency operations.

Provide the conditions and circumstances that led to the need for this emergency purchase:

The need for this emergency purchase arose because the current IWAP service arrangement is nearing expiration, and there is insufficient time to complete a competitive procurement process before services must continue. An interruption in IWAP services would negatively impact program participants and disrupt critical program operations. In addition, the agency is currently conducting an internal IDVA audit of IWAP services to evaluate program operations and requirements. The results of this review are being used to assist in the development of a new IFB solicitation for the long-term administration of the program. Because the audit and resulting solicitation development are still in progress, the agency requires a short-term emergency purchase to maintain uninterrupted services while completing the review and preparing a competitive procurement. This approach ensures continuity of services and supports the agency's efforts to establish a comprehensive and competitive long-term contracting solution.

Reason for selection of this particular vendor:

Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) already has a program in place for IWAP services and works in conjunction with IDVA to provide critical services to veterans. IJF will maintain the DVA website and call center that IJF created in 2023. IJF currently provides a state-wide network of credentialed behavioral health providers to provide screening, assessment, referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, prescriptions for behavioral health medications, legal and financial counseling and other support services for veterans suffering from mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related behavioral health disorders. IJF will continue to provide a 24/7/365 toll-free resource and referral line with access to behavioral health clinicians for eligible veterans and their family members.

Illinois Joining Forces already has an established website and toll free number on behalf of IDVA, as well as the network of providers to arrange for individual behavioral health services to the veteran population , and resources and referral database of community supports that are sensitive to issues facing returning veterans, such as substance abuse, assistance with housing concerns, loss of employment, marital issues and suicide. These are specialized services and not widely available as vendors must be accredited by the US Dept of Veterans Affairs. IJF is accredited by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as a nonprofit under IDVA. Any transition to a new vendor would require months of interactions between the vendor and the State IT Department as well as additional cost to the State. The contract language that the website is the property of IDVA while IDVA hypothetically would not require the new vendor to create a new website, it would take considerable time and costs working with a new vendor to port the website design information, including working with DoIT for potentially months to

Page 2 of 3State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services

Vendor: ILLINOIS JOINING FORCES

Zip: 62704State: ILCity:SPRINGFIELDAddress: 833 S SPRING STREET

Division: CENTRAL OFFICEAgency: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS finalize security issues. This is the best case which assumes no dispute from current vendor in handling over all design aspects of previous website.

Description of supplies or services to be provided:

llinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP) is a warm helpline and high touch holistic resource navigation and case management service providing information, resource referrals and support to Illinois Veterans, their families and caregivers experiencing emotional challenges associated with PTSD, mild TBI, Military sexual trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and substance abuse, and overall emotional wellness. The program has toll-free resource and referral line with access to IWAP consultants to provide telephonic assistance for eligible Veterans and their family members. The agency is seeking to contract with a vendor to provide referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, and where appropriate, facilitate prescription coverage for behavioral health medications and other support services for eligible veterans and their family members who are seeking counseling related to their military service and associated transitional challenges. The focus is on veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, although assistance to veterans of other conflicts is also available through IWAP.

IWAP's intent is not to replace existing service for veterans, but to supplement them where gaps currently exist due to increased demand. IWAP will provide a toll-free resource and referral line for eligible veterans and their family members Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST. The vendor must defer emergency and imminent suicide situations or ideations to the National Suicide Hotline immediately.

Emergency procurements shall be made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances, and agencies shall utilize best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in its emergency procurement process. 30 ILCS 500/20-30(a).

Describe the actions taken by the agency to make the emergency purchase with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances:

The agency determined that, due to the critical nature of the behavioral health services being provided and the need to prevent any disruption in care for veterans, it was in the best interest of the agency and its clients to continue services with the incumbent provider, IJF, on a temporary 90-day basis. This short-term emergency purchase was limited to the period necessary to maintain continuity of care while the agency develops and issues a competitive solicitation for the long-term administration of the program. By restricting the emergency procurement to a temporary bridge period and concurrently preparing a competitive solicitation, the agency is taking steps to obtain as much competition as practicable under the circumstances.

List the actions taken by the agency that constitute its best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in this emergency purchase:

Due to the emergency nature of this procurement and the critical need to ensure uninterrupted behavioral health services for veterans, the agency continued services with the existing provider, IJF, on a temporary 90-day basis. The agency limited the emergency purchase to only the period necessary to maintain continuity of care while preparing a competitive solicitation for long-term program administration. Through the forthcoming competitive solicitation, the agency will provide an opportunity for qualified contractors, including those certified under the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), to compete for the long-term contract.

Is there an active State contract available for the required supplies or services? Yes No

This emergency contract was awarded on the earliest of these dates: (choose one)

Page 3 of 3State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services

Vendor: ILLINOIS JOINING FORCES

Zip: 62704State: ILCity:SPRINGFIELDAddress: 833 S SPRING STREET

Division: CENTRAL OFFICEAgency: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS the State agency communicated to the vendor to start work publication on the Bulletin identified the selected vendor the contract was signed by both parties

Amount ($) of this expenditure is: 84387.16 Amount is Actual or Estimated*: Estimated

*Pursuant to 44 Ill. Admin. 1.2030 (f)(5), if Estimated is indicated, an Emergency Final Cost form will be submitted by the State agency and published by the State Purchasing Officer no later than the tenth day of the succeeding month. If Actual is chosen and the total cost differs from the amount on this statement, an Emergency Final Cost form must be submitted and published within the same timeframe.

Select the type of funding to be used: Federal Funds State Appropriated Funds State Grant Funds Other

Signature This emergency purchase was made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances. Best efforts were utilized to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in the process.

I am authorized to make this emergency purchase, and I know and understand the contents of this statement and all statements herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Agency Signature: Title: Agency Procurement Officer

Printed Name: Leah Thomas Date: 6/15/2026

State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement V.26.1 Page of

EMERGENCY PURCHASE STATEMENT

Page of State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement v.26.1 Emergency Purchases are conducted pursuant to 30 ILCS 500/20-30 and 44 Ill. Adm. Code 1.2030.

Emergency Purchase Details Emergency Condition (select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu below):

Provide a description and reasons for needing this emergency purchase:

Provide the conditions and circumstances that led to the need for this emergency purchase:

Reason for selection of this particular vendor:

Description of supplies or services to be provided:

Emergency procurements shall be made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances, and agencies shall utilize best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in its emergency procurement process. 30 ILCS 500/20-30(a).

Describe the actions taken by the agency to make the emergency purchase with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances:

List the actions taken by the agency that constitute its best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in this emergency purchase:

Is there an active State contract available for the required supplies or services?

If Yes is checked above, explain why the existing contract does not meet the need:

This emergency contract was awarded on the earliest of these dates: (choose one) *Pursuant to 44 Ill. Admin. 1.2030 (f)(5), if Estimated is indicated, an Emergency Final Cost form will be submitted by the State agency and published by the State Purchasing Officer no later than the tenth day of the succeeding month. If Actual is chosen and the total cost differs from the amount on this statement, an Emergency Final Cost form must be submitted and published within the same timeframe.

Select the type of funding to be used:

Signature This emergency purchase was made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances. Best efforts were utilized to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in the process.

I am authorized to make this emergency purchase, and I know and understand the contents of this statement and all statements herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

11.0.0.20130303.1.892433.887364

critical services to veterans. IJF will maintain the DVA website and call center that IJF created in 2023. IJF currently provides a state-wide network of credentialed behavioral health providers to provide screening, assessment, referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, prescriptions for behavioral health medications, legal and financial counseling and other support services for veterans suffering from mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related behavioral health disorders. IJF will continue to provide a 24/7/365 toll-free resource and referral line with access to behavioral health clinicians for eligible veterans and their family members.

Illinois Joining Forces already has an established website and toll free number on behalf of IDVA, as well as the network of providers to arrange for individual behavioral health services to the veteran population , and resources and referral database of community supports that are sensitive to issues facing returning veterans, such as substance abuse, assistance with housing concerns, loss of employment, marital issues and suicide. These are specialized services and not widely available as vendors must be accredited by the US Dept of Veterans Affairs. IJF is accredited by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as a nonprofit under IDVA. Any transition to a new vendor would require months of interactions between the vendor and the State IT Department as well as additional cost to the State. The contract language that the website is the property of IDVA while IDVA hypothetically would not require the new vendor to create a new website, it would take considerable time and costs working with a new vendor to port the website design information, including working with DoIT for potentially months to finalize security issues. This is the best case which assumes no dispute from current vendor in handling over all design aspects of previous website.

ExplanationSuppliesServices: llinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP) is a warm helpline and high touch holistic resource navigation and case management service providing information, resource referrals and support to Illinois Veterans, their families and caregivers experiencing emotional challenges associated with PTSD, mild TBI, Military sexual trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and substance abuse, and overall emotional wellness. The program has toll-free resource and referral line with access to IWAP consultants to provide telephonic assistance for eligible Veterans and their family members. The agency is seeking to contract with a vendor to provide referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, and where appropriate, facilitate prescription coverage for behavioral health medications and other support services for eligible veterans and their family members who are seeking counseling related to their military service and associated transitional challenges. The focus is on veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, although assistance to veterans of other conflicts is also available through IWAP.

IWAP's intent is not to replace existing service for veterans, but to supplement them where gaps currently exist due to increased demand. IWAP will provide a toll-free resource and referral line for eligible veterans and their family members Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST. The vendor must defer emergency and imminent suicide situations or ideations to the National Suicide Hotline immediately.