Updated Emergency Purchase Statement - APO approved.pdf

EMERGENCY PURCHASE STATEMENT

Page 1 of 2State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement V.25.2

Zip: 60003State:ILCity:ChicagoAddress: 100 S. State Street, 4th Floor

Vendor: Illinois Joining Forces

Zip: 62704State: ILCity:SpringfieldAddress: 833 South Spring Street

Division: Central OfficeAgency: Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Emergency Purchase Details Reference

#: 26-497DVA-CENTR-B-51488

Emergency Category (select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu below):

To prevent or minimize serious disruption in critical State services that affect health, safety, or collection of substantial State revenues

Reason for selection of this particular vendor:

Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) already has a program in place for IWAP services and works in conjunction with IDVA to provide critical services to veterans. IJF will maintain the DVA website and call center that IJF created in 2023. IJF currently provides a state-wide network of credentialed behavioral health providers to provide screening, assessment, referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, prescriptions for behavioral health medications, legal and financial counseling and other support services for veterans suffering from mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related behavioral health disorders. IJF will continue to provide a 24/7/365 toll-free resource and referral line with access to behavioral health clinicians for eligible veterans and their family members.

Illinois Joining Forces already has an established website and toll free number on behalf of IDVA, as well as the network of providers to arrange for individual behavioral health services to the veteran population , and resources and referral database of community supports that are sensitive to issues facing returning veterans, such as substance abuse, assistance with housing concerns, loss of employment, marital issues and suicide. These are specialized services and not widely available as vendors must be accredited by the US Dept of Veterans Affairs. IJF is accredited by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as a nonprofit under IDVA. Any transition to a new vendor would require months of interactions between the vendor and the State IT Department as well as additional cost to the State. The contract language that the website is the property of IDVA while IDVA hypothetically would not require the new vendor to create a new website, it would take considerable time and costs working with a new vendor to port the website design information, including working with DoIT for potentially months to finalize security issues. This is the best case which assumes no dispute from current vendor in handling over all design aspects of previous website.

Description of supplies or services to be provided:

llinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP) is a warm helpline and high touch holistic resource navigation and case management service providing information, resource referrals and support to Illinois Veterans, their families and caregivers experiencing emotional challenges associated with PTSD, mild TBI, Military sexual trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and substance abuse, and overall emotional wellness. The program has toll-free resource and referral line with access to IWAP consultants to provide telephonic assistance for eligible Veterans and their family members. The agency is seeking to contract with a vendor to provide referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, and where appropriate, facilitate prescription coverage for behavioral health medications and other support services for eligible veterans and their family members who are seeking counseling related to their military service and associated transitional challenges. The focus is on veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, although assistance to veterans of other conflicts is also available through IWAP.

IWAP's intent is not to replace existing service for veterans, but to supplement them where gaps currently exist due to increased demand. IWAP will provide a toll-free resource and referral line for eligible veterans and their family members Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST. The vendor must defer emergency and imminent suicide situations or ideations to the National Suicide Hotline immediately. The vendor will refer, as appropriate, all non-counseling related requests to Illinois

Page 2 of 2State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement V.25.2

Zip: 60003State:ILCity:ChicagoAddress: 100 S. State Street, 4th Floor

Vendor: Illinois Joining Forces

Zip: 62704State: ILCity:SpringfieldAddress: 833 South Spring Street

Division: Central OfficeAgency: Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Joining Forces, a State of Illinois initiative, to obtain services and programs for the veteran or his/her family. The vendor may also receive counseling-related referrals from Illinois Veteran Service Officers and other Illinois Joining Forces members throughout the State. As a State program, IWAP will have an Illinois Joining Forces profile on the Illinoisjoiningforces.org website for purposes of non-counseling related referrals, for which the vendor will serve as point of contact and via which vendor will make non-counseling referrals. The vendor will maintain a comprehensive website that communicates the benefits of the program, as well as operate an online communication live chat function manned Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.

CST.

The current contract ended March 3, 2026. To avoid disruption of critical services, this emergency purchase will run from March 4, 2026 to June 1, 2026 while the agency works on developing a long term contract.

Emergency procurements shall be made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances, and agencies shall utilize best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in its emergency procurement process. 30 ILCS 500/20-30(a).

List the actions taken by the agency that constitute its best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in this emergency purchase:

Given the critical nature of these services and the need to avoid disruption in care for veterans receiving behavioral health support, the agency felt that the best option was to continue services with IJF for 90 days, while we prepare a competitive solicitation for long-term program administration.

Is there an existing State contract available for the required supplies or services? Yes No

Expected Start Date: Mar 4, 2026 Estimated End Date*: Jun 1, 2026

Amount of this expenditure is: $84,387.15 Actual or Estimated*: Actual

*Estimated end date and cost will be reported later.

Select the type of funding to be used: Federal Funds State Appropriated Funds State Grant Funds Other

Signature This emergency purchase was made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances. Best efforts were utilized to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in the process.

I am authorized to make this emergency purchase, and I know and understand the contents of this statement and all statements herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Agency Signature: Title: Agency Procurement Officer

Printed Name: Leah Thomas Date: Mar 9, 2026

State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement V.25.2 Page of

EMERGENCY PURCHASE STATEMENT

Page of State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services Emergency Purchase Statement V.25.2 Emergency Purchase Details Emergency Category (select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu below):

Reason for selection of this particular vendor:

Description of supplies or services to be provided:

Emergency procurements shall be made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances, and agencies shall utilize best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in its emergency procurement process. 30 ILCS 500/20-30(a).

List the actions taken by the agency that constitute its best efforts to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in this emergency purchase:

Is there an existing State contract available for the required supplies or services?

If Yes is checked above, explain why the existing contract does not meet the need:

Actual or Estimated*:

*Estimated end date and cost will be reported later.

Select the type of funding to be used:

Signature This emergency purchase was made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances. Best efforts were utilized to include contractors certified under the Business Enterprise Program in the process.

I am authorized to make this emergency purchase, and I know and understand the contents of this statement and all statements herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

11.0.0.20130303.1.892433.887364

Illinois Joining Forces already has an established website and toll free number on behalf of IDVA, as well as the network of providers to arrange for individual behavioral health services to the veteran population , and resources and referral database of community supports that are sensitive to issues facing returning veterans, such as substance abuse, assistance with housing concerns, loss of employment, marital issues and suicide. These are specialized services and not widely available as vendors must be accredited by the US Dept of Veterans Affairs. IJF is accredited by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as a nonprofit under IDVA. Any transition to a new vendor would require months of interactions between the vendor and the State IT Department as well as additional cost to the State. The contract language that the website is the property of IDVA while IDVA hypothetically would not require the new vendor to create a new website, it would take considerable time and costs working with a new vendor to port the website design information, including working with DoIT for potentially months to finalize security issues. This is the best case which assumes no dispute from current vendor in handling over all design aspects of previous website.

ExplanationSuppliesServices: llinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP) is a warm helpline and high touch holistic resource navigation and case management service providing information, resource referrals and support to Illinois Veterans, their families and caregivers experiencing emotional challenges associated with PTSD, mild TBI, Military sexual trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and substance abuse, and overall emotional wellness. The program has toll-free resource and referral line with access to IWAP consultants to provide telephonic assistance for eligible Veterans and their family members. The agency is seeking to contract with a vendor to provide referral, care coordination, counseling, psychotherapy, and where appropriate, facilitate prescription coverage for behavioral health medications and other support services for eligible veterans and their family members who are seeking counseling related to their military service and associated transitional challenges. The focus is on veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, although assistance to veterans of other conflicts is also available through IWAP. IWAP's intent is not to replace existing service for veterans, but to supplement them where gaps currently exist due to increased demand. IWAP will provide a toll-free resource and referral line for eligible veterans and their family members Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST. The vendor must defer emergency and imminent suicide situations or ideations to the National Suicide Hotline immediately. The vendor will refer, as appropriate, all non-counseling related requests to Illinois Joining Forces, a State of Illinois initiative, to obtain services and programs for the veteran or his/her family. The vendor may also receive counseling-related referrals from Illinois Veteran Service Officers and other Illinois Joining Forces members throughout the State. As a State program, IWAP will have an Illinois Joining Forces profile on the Illinoisjoiningforces.org website for purposes of non-counseling related referrals, for which the vendor will serve as point of contact and via which vendor will make non-counseling referrals. The vendor will maintain a comprehensive website that communicates the benefits of the program, as well as operate an online communication live chat function manned Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST.

The current contract ended March 3, 2026. To avoid disruption of critical services, this emergency purchase will run from March 4, 2026 to June 1, 2026 while the agency works on developing a long term contract.