IBM Hardware Maintenance SSJF Part Two

This document pertains to a Sole Source Justification Form (SSJF) filed by the Illinois Secretary of State for mission-critical hardware and z16 mainframe maintenance and support services to be provided by IBM. The contract is effective from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with a contract value of $748,266.48. The procurement is designated as sole source due to the proprietary nature of the z16 mainframe systems and associated mission-critical hardware currently deployed by the Secretary of State, for which IBM is the sole manufacturer and authorized service provider. This contract represents a continuation of existing maintenance support that is essential to the state's critical information technology infrastructure operations. The deadline for comments on the sole-source intent is July 3, 2026.

The Secretary of State has filed both a Sole Source Justification Form and a Sole Source Hearing Details Form to document the rationale for bypassing competitive procurement procedures. This procurement bypasses standard competitive bidding due to the vendor-specific nature of the equipment and the lack of alternative providers capable of delivering equivalent support services for the z16 mainframe platform. The contract continuation ensures uninterrupted maintenance and support for mission-critical systems that are integral to the state's operational requirements.