Cable Television Services

The Illinois Department of Corrections, Vandalia Correctional Center, issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB #CIBF 26-426DOC-VANDA-B-52059) on May 5, 2026, with a response deadline of June 4, 2026, to procure cable television services including technical support and ongoing maintenance to serve individuals in custody at the facility. The procurement seeks cable or satellite television programming services designed to support approximately 750 potential connections across the main facility and work camp, with vendors required to provide a minimum of 100 channels with the flexibility to add or subtract channels throughout the contract period upon mutual agreement and facility approval. The selected vendor must provide, install, and maintain all necessary equipment including a headend system, ensure reliable signal delivery to all television hookups, and deliver 24/7 customer support via toll-free number with technician dispatch capability within 24-48 hours of notification; all equipment must be fully installed and operational by July 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. CDT. The initial contract term is four years commencing July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2030, with a maximum total term not to exceed ten years including renewal options and extensions. Pricing is estimated based on actual television connections with monthly invoicing and semi-annual connection counts conducted by the agency, with payment made exclusively from the Central Inmate Benefit Fund; vendor personnel must pass background checks and security screening, comply with all Illinois Department of Corrections rules and regulations, and maintain coordination with the facility's Chief Engineer during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding federal and state holidays. Additional deliverables include two in-house channels—one dedicated for facility messaging and programming and one with DVD loop playback capability—and comprehensive insurance coverage including General Commercial Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, Auto Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Workers' Compensation Insurance as required by law.

The solicitation is limited to direct service providers only, with resellers, brokers, aggregators, or third-party intermediaries explicitly ineligible to respond. Vendors must submit either the Vendor Disclosure form (formerly Forms A) if not registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) or the IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure form (formerly Forms B) if currently registered with the state procurement system, along with certifications regarding debarment status, drug-free workplace compliance, environmental violations, bid rigging prohibitions, forced labor restrictions, and cybersecurity clearance. Vendors claiming the Illinois Business Preference or Domestic Product Preference must submit the appropriate affidavits or designations as specified in the solicitation. The procurement process allows vendors to submit exceptions to the standard contract terms and conditions through redlined versions, though the State reserves the right to accept or reject proposed exceptions. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available solicitation documents; however, vendors employing fifteen or more full-time employees must obtain an Illinois Department of Human Rights Public Contracts Number, and vendors whose contracts total more than $50,000 must register with the State Board of Elections. The solicitation documents reference Standard Terms and Conditions available through the Illinois Cooperative Procurement Organization (CPO) website that will become part of any resulting contract, and vendors are required to comply with all documentation specifications or face disqualification.