Sole Source Letter -ISI MREN _2027-2031.pdf

This is a sole source justification letter from ISI Communications, Inc. to the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology regarding a connection fee to the MREN/StarLight facility located at 710 N. Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, Illinois. The letter supports a notice of intent to award a sole source contract to ISI Communications, LLC for MREN Internet 2 Subscription services. The service term covers January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, a five-year contract period. A public hearing was scheduled with comments due by October 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM CST, which would be canceled unless interested parties submitted written objections or requests during that timeframe.

ISI Communications, Inc. has served as the business agent for MREN and the StarLight facility for twenty-five years, managing business affairs, billing, and accounting functions for both organizations. The justification emphasizes that the services provided by MREN/StarLight are unique and not currently available from any other organization offering similar or equivalent services, supporting the sole source procurement designation. No specific pricing information is disclosed in this letter, though it references pricing provided for the connection to the Starlight facility for the 2027-2031 service period.