FY27 GED Testing SSJF Part I - SPO Signed.pdf

This is a Sole Source Justification Form (Bulletin Reference Number 27-684ICCB-ILCOM-B-52407) submitted by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), Board 684, for approval of a sole source procurement. The requesting department is the Illinois Community College Board, and the vendor is GED Testing Services. The form documents the agency's justification for procuring services from a single source rather than through competitive bidding.

The contract covers operation of the ILSAVE26 discount program for General Educational Development (GED) testing services, valued at $400,000 for the initial term. The contract is a term contract beginning on a date to be determined (DOE) and ending June 30, 2027, with no renewal options. Funding is provided through state appropriated funds. The sole source justification is based on intellectual property rights, as GED Testing Services is one of only two state-authorized providers of high school equivalency testing for Illinois residents and owns the testing intellectual property. The procurement history shows prior related contracts dating back to 2020, with previous values ranging from $350,000 to $450,000. The discount program allows low-income individuals to complete HSE testing at reduced cost ($26 per test module) and includes test center coordination, monthly usage statements, data dashboards for tracking test takers, and program pause capability as directed by ICCB. The form was approved by the State Purchasing Officer on May 18, 2026.