DES - Sole Source - Mail Fulfillment Center

This is a sole source procurement opportunity from the State of Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) for a mail fulfillment center. IDES is seeking to continue utilizing Pitney Bowes, Inc. as the vendor to provide printing, folding, inserting, and mailing services for IDES correspondence, including claimant and employer notifications. The required services include the capacity to handle over 100,000 envelopes per week and the ability to send all mail through the United States Postal Service. The contract term is from April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, with no renewal options, and the total value of the contract is not to exceed $750,000. IDES has justified the sole source procurement due to Pitney Bowes' proprietary PlanetPress software, which is required to properly collate and barcode the documents prior to mailing. IDES evaluated alternative options but found that other state agencies did not have the necessary compatible equipment and software.

There are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond to this opportunity. The incumbent vendor is Pitney Bowes, Inc., and the existing Pitney Bowes equipment and software must be integrated. The state has determined that Pitney Bowes' pricing, which includes a per-page processing fee and programming change fees, is fair and reasonable when compared to market rates for similar services. A public hearing will be held unless an interested party submits written comments or requests a public hearing by February 11, 2022 at 4 p.m.