SSJF Westlaw - Bid-52150 Approved.pdf

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Attached to
27- Westlaw Software-Sole Source
Solicitation number
27-444DHS-MIS44-B-52150
Issued by
Illinois

About this file

This is a Sole Source Justification Form filed by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) for the procurement of Westlaw software licenses through West Publishing Corporation. The agency requests twenty (20) Westlaw Proflex software licenses to provide legal library access to patients residing in DHS Mental Health facilities, a requirement mandated by statute. The project has a need identification date of April 15, 2026, with services required by July 1, 2026. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with a not-to-exceed value of $113,520.00 for the initial term and no renewal options specified in this justification.

The pricing for this purchase is $5,676.00 per license ($473 per month per license) with no additional costs or fees, determined to be fair and reasonable based on approved rates from previous years. The sole source justification is based on West Publishing Corporation's proprietary Key Numbering System with headnotes and the availability of natural language search functionality, features not available through alternative legal research platforms such as LexisNexis, which is restricted to state attorneys and their staff. The agency provided extensive purchase history demonstrating consistent use of Westlaw since 2020, with a previous IFB conducted in FY25 that yielded zero bids from competing vendors. The request is funded entirely through state funds. A hearing was scheduled for the sole source determination, with the notice posted on May 6, 2026, and public comments requested by May 15, 2026.

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Sole Source Justification Form Version 7.01 Page of Sole Source Justification Form - Part I Section I - General Information Will this Sole Source amend a Professional or Artistic Services contract?

If yes, what was the original contract value?

*Sole Source may not be used for amendments for Professional or Artistic Services if the amendment would increase the value by more than 5% of the initial award or extend the term by more than 60 days.

Section II - Proposed Term If a Term Contract, does the term, including renewals, exceed 12 months?

If yes, provide a detailed justification including any economic benefit received for agreeing to a multi-year term:

Section III - Funding Source Select the type of funding to be used (Check all that apply):

Section IV - Sole Source Justification Are there secondary justification(s) for this sole source?

Section V - Purchase History Has the Agency or University Purchased these supplies or services in the past?

Term Term From Term To Value Description Contract Number Type Section VI - Business Rationale

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the need for the supplies or services:

2. Provide a list and describe in detail the specifications required to satisfy the need:

3. Provide detail explaining the justification selected in Section IV to explain why the requested supplies or services are the only ones available that can satisfy the agency or university requirements?

4. What are the unique features of the supplies or services that are not available in any other product or by any other vendor? Provide specific quantifiable factors/qualifications:

5. Has the Agency or University considered alternative supplies or services to satisfy their need?

5a. If yes, name the alternative vendors whose supplies or services were evaluated:

5b. If yes, what were the alternatives for each vendor and why were they unacceptable? Be specific with regard to features, characteristics, requirements, capabilities and compatibility:

5c. Explain how the market evaluation was conducted?

*This evaluation is to determine available options within a market. If the evaluation is to determine quality or best suited option, this is not the appropriate source selection. Under no circumstances shall the evaluation consist of testing alternative options. These activities must be conducted in a competitive transparent environment (i.e. IFB or RFP).

5a. If no, why weren't alternatives evaluated?

6. Are there resellers or distributors?

7. What efforts were made to get the best possible price (i.e. did the agency/university negotiate) and how did you determine the price for this purchase is considered fair and reasonable?

8. Will this purchase obligate the State to this vendor for future purchases such as maintenance, licensing or continuing need?

8a. If yes, please provide details regarding future obligations and/or needs:

9. What will be the financial or other impact to the State if this sole source is not approved and a competitive bid is required?

10. Is there any additional information you would like to add to justify this sole source?

Section VII Requesting Department Signature Required I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct and the fairness and reasonableness of the price was adequately confirmed.

State Agency Bureau/Division Head or University Purchasing Director Approval and Signature Required I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct and the fairness and reasonableness of the price was adequately confirmed. (All prior form fields will lock once this e-signature is completed) SPO Approval and Signature Required Sole Source Justification Form - Part II Section I - General Information Was a Sole Source hearing held per 30 ILCS 500/20-25?

Section II - Sole Source Hearing Details The State posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin a description of the State's need, the justification for the sole source decision, and information regarding the opportunity to submit comments and testify at a public hearing. Notice of the hearing was also posted outside of the hearing room 48 hours prior to the hearing.

The public hearing was conducted for the purpose of receiving testimony regarding the sole source determination. The Hearing Officer recommends the following:

The following relevant documents are attached:

Section III - CPO Approval and Signature Required 9.0.0.2.20101008.1.734229 Ellen.H.Daley@illinois.gov

BulletinNum: 27-444DHS-MIS44-B-52150
Requesting: IL Department of Human Services
CurrentPage:
PageCount:
Department: Mental Health, Central Office and Department of Developmental Disabilities
NeedIdentifiedDate: 2026-04-15
NeedbyDate: 2026-07-01
ProjectTitle: Westlaw Software
ProjectTitle: Westlaw Software
Vendor: West Publishing Corporation
Vendor: West Publishing Corporation
Description: Twenty (20) Westlaw Proflex software licenses
ValueIs: Not to Exceed
ValueofInitialTerm: 113520.00000000
P-Ayes:
P-Ano:
P-AValue:
ThisIsA: New Sole Source
One-Time:
Term:
BeginDate: 2026-07-01
EndDate: 2027-06-30
NumberofRenewals:
RenewalLength:
RenewalValue:
ExceedingYes:
ExceedingNo:
TextField3:
StateFunds: 1
FederalFunds: 0
FundingOther: 0
TextField4: Westlaw Software
DropDownList1: Items are Copyrighted or Patented and the Items are Only Available from the Holder
DropDownList1: Items are Required for Research and No Other Source is Able to Meet the Researcher's Documented Need
DropDownList1: Software License/Upgrade/Maintenance
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
DropDownList1: Small Purchase
Justify:
PastYes:
PastNo:
DateTimeField20: 07/01/2020
DateTimeField19: 09/30/2020
NumericField8: 73894.20000000
TextField5: P-18:76
DateTimeField18: 11/01/2020
DateTimeField17: 12/28/2020
NumericField9: 12315.70000000
TextField10: Westlaw Software
TextField11: MIS0002121
DateTimeField16: 01/01/2021
DateTimeField15: 02/28/2021
NumericField10: 12315.70000000
TextField16: Westlaw Software
TextField17: MIS0002135
DateTimeField14: 03/01/2021
DateTimeField13: 05/31/2021
NumericField11: 91764.24000000
TextField22: Westlaw Software
TextField23: MIS0002141
DateTimeField12: 05/28/2021
DateTimeField11: 06/30/2021
NumericField12: 6157.85000000
TextField28: Westlaw Software
TextField29: P-18-76
DateTimeField10: 07/01/2021
DateTimeField9: 07/31/2021
NumericField13: 6157.85000000
TextField34: Westlaw Software
TextField35: P-18-79
DateTimeField8: 08/01/2021
DateTimeField7: 08/31/2021
NumericField14: 6157.85000000
TextField40: Westlaw Software
TextField41: P-28681
DateTimeField6: 12/01/2021
DateTimeField5: 11/30/2022
NumericField15: 73894.20000000
TextField46: Westlaw Software
TextField47: 4100149940
DateTimeField4: 12/27/2022
DateTimeField4: 2026-05-05
DateTimeField4: 2026-05-06
DateTimeField3: 11/30/2023
NumericField16: 91764.24000000
TextField52: Westlaw Software
TextField53: 4100170216
DateTimeField2: 12/01/2023
DateTimeField1: 11/30/2024
NumericField17: 98184.00000000
TextField58: Westlaw Software
TextField59: 4100186348
IfMoreThan10: FY25 Small Purchase contract done while IFB conducted. Term: 01/01/25-6/30/25, cost $52,536.00, contract # 4100208366

Most recent contract term 07/08/2025 - 06/30/26, $108,240, Westlaw Software, 4100217323, Sole Source

Q1Answer: Legal library access is required by statute for all patients who reside in a Department of Human Services (DHS) Mental Health facility. Westlaw provides a secure digital access point for all sites.
Q2Answer: Licenses for Westlaw legal access for all DHS Mental Health facilities to provide a accessible legal library for all patients.
Q3Answer: Westlaw legal software has been successfully utilized in the DHS Mental Health facilities to provide a legal library to the patients. Westlaw uses a proprietary Key Numbering System with headnotes that make searching cases easy and efficient, and is the only recognized legal taxonomy in the United States. Patients within the DMH Mental Health facilities are already familiar with Westlaw and how it operates allowing for relevant legal searches of both State and Federal Statutes.
Q4Answer: The other software that is available to provide a legal library is LexisNexis which provides legal and professional solutions but that master contract is for use by State's attorneys and their staff only and does not meet the needs of the patients. Westlaw utilizes both Boolean and natural language searches to find relevant case law. The natural language search is not a feature in LexisNexis and makes Westlaw a better product for DHS.

West Publishing is the sole provider of Westlaw software. Staff and patients at these facilities are familiar with the product and how it functions providing the best legal resource for the patients.

altYes:
altNo:
Q5aAnswer: The LexisNexis master contract.
Q5aAnswer: Westlaw has historically been used successfully by the agency, the patients and staff are familiar with the product and it meets the legal requirements. In previous years, through solicitations, no other vendor was able to meet the needs of the agency and there has been no indication that this status has changed.
Q5bAnswer: The LexisNexis master contract for on-line legal research is only for legal research conducted by the state's attorney's and their staff; it is not for public use.
Q5cAnswer: The market evaluation was conducted by viewing what legal services were available for public consumption. As LexisNexis is only available for attorney’s and their staff, it does not meet the needs of the patients who require access to a legal library while at DMH. Additionally an IFB was conducted in FY25 but it yielded zero bids. No other products were offered through the procurement process.
Q6Yes:
Q6No:
Q6NA:
Q7Answer: The price was determined to be fair and reasonable as it is within the approved rates from previous years. Each license is $473 per month with no additional costs or fees.

The agency is ordering 20 licenses priced at $5,676.00 each for a total of $113,520.

Q8y:
Q8n:
Q8aAnswer:
Q9Answer: Patients will not have access to legal research resources and a lawsuit will likely be filed against the State of Illinois.

DHS has a longstanding settlement-based obligation to provide resident access to legal research resources, the agreement specifically references Westlaw, and continuity of that access is needed for FY27.

Q10Answer:
SignatureField1:
TextField63: Dainelle Powell
TextField63: dainelle.powell@illinois.gov
TextField63: jean.sandstrom@illinois.gov
TextField63: Jean Sandstrom
TextField64: 618-615-0849
TextField65: 269-290-4725
Approve:
denied:
Comments:
Phone: 217-836-6172
Date: 2026-05-06
PN: Shea Firebaugh
Email: shea.firebaugh@illinois.gov
InitialPostingDate: 2026-05-06
HearingYes:
HearingNo:
HearingDate:
HearingTime:
HearingLocation:
No: 0
Members: 0
recommends:
WrittenComments: 0
DecisionMemo: 0
HearingMinutes: 0
Other: 0
OtherComments:
HearingOfficerSignature:
Authorize:
AuthorizeWChanges:
Cancel:
CPOComments:
CPOSignature:
CPOTelephone: 217-558-2231
CPOPrintedName: Ellen H. Daley
CPOEmail:

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