sole-source-hearing-details-form-v-26-2-12-16-25~7.pdf

This is a Sole-Source Hearing Details Form issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract to Goshen Consulting. The procurement seeks formative evaluation services under the federally funded School-Based Trauma-Informed Support Services (TISS) grant program, specifically for the REACH Out initiative. The scope of work includes administering standardized screening tools such as the Trauma Events Screening Inventory for Children (TESI-C) and Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI), collecting student academic and attendance data, conducting annual surveys of school REACH team leaders, and ensuring compliance with SAMHSA data requirements while maintaining privacy standards. The evaluation will serve a minimum of 6,750 students across alternative education systems and high-need referral districts in two geographic areas of Illinois. The contract was posted on February 2, 2026, with a written comment and hearing request deadline of February 13, 2026, at 4 p.m. The contract term runs from December 1, 2025, or upon execution, through September 30, 2026, with zero renewal options and no open competition permitted.

The contract award value is $125,000, which ISBE determined to be fair and reasonable through comparison with similar services under other grants. The entire contract is funded through federal grant funds provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The sole-source justification is based on Goshen Consulting's prior successful performance as a subcontractor under Contract 24027 from September 30, 2022, through June 30, 2024, their specialized expertise in SAMHSA evaluation processes, established relationships with community partners and school districts, and the customized evaluation systems they have already developed for this initiative. Required qualifications include 15 or more years of experience in community-based evaluation work, membership in the American Evaluation Association, and expertise in SAMHSA requirements. The justification notes that transitioning to an alternative vendor would be impractical given less than one year remaining in the federal grant term, as alternative vendors would require $5,000 to $20,000 in onboarding costs and could not adequately replicate Goshen's complex systems. The State Procurement Officer approved the sole-source determination on January 14, 2026, and the contract was approved on February 18, 2026.