Center for Helping Professions

The State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office is seeking a vendor for child welfare services through the Center for Helping Professions under a small purchase with emergency conditions, with proposals due September 14, 2026.

This is not a standard competitive bid. The procurement carries emergency conditions and does not follow traditional bidding procedures. Vendors must certify compliance with thirty-four distinct Illinois state requirements covering legal standing, ethical conduct, financial responsibility, and regulatory adherence — including educational loan defaults, pension incentive restrictions, criminal convictions, environmental violations, tax compliance, workplace drug policies, equal employment opportunity, and cybersecurity compliance. Failure to provide truthful certifications or maintain compliance subjects vendors to contract voidance, suspension, debarment, denial of payment, civil fines, and criminal penalties under the Illinois False Claims Act. Contractors with contracts exceeding one year must recertify annually by January 1st.

The contract is contingent upon appropriated funds and may be terminated for convenience by the State with thirty days' written notice or immediately for cause if the vendor fails to perform material requirements or poses a risk to health, safety, or property. Vendors must obtain general commercial liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence with the State named as additional insured and maintain books and records for three years (five years if federal funds are used). Payment is governed by the Illinois Prompt Payment Act; invoices for services through June 30 must be submitted by July 31. All work product is deemed work-for-hire owned exclusively by the State of Illinois. The vendor must indemnify the State against claims arising from breaches, negligent performance, or intellectual property infringement. Disputes are resolved exclusively through the Illinois Court of Claims.

The source does not specify contract value, term length, scope details, or evaluation criteria beyond the certification requirements.