DHS No Bids Accepted CHANGE ORDER NOTICE - 2020 Census Marketing and Public Relations

The State of Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is issuing a change order to an existing marketing and public relations contract with the vendor Kivvit. The change order will increase the contract's value by $2,500,000 to promote the 2020 Census through digital platforms, ethnic media advertising, and targeted marketing to hard-to-count communities. This change is necessary due to the unforeseen impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on statewide census efforts, which has made census promotion more challenging. The original contract with Kivvit was awarded through a competitive solicitation, and the change order is considered germane to the original contract scope. Kivvit currently charges $400 per hour for their services, with all marketing activities being delivered at cost without markup. The change order is being issued in accordance with Illinois procurement law and regulations, which require notice of contract renegotiations and changes that increase the cost by more than $10,000 or extend the completion time by 30 days or more.

The IDHS believes this change order is necessary and in the best interest of the state to ensure a complete count of all Illinois residents during the 2020 Census. There are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, as this is an amendment to an existing contract. The incumbent vendor, Kivvit, will continue to provide the marketing and public relations services. The total value of the amended contract is not specified, but the change order will increase the contract by $2,500,000.