Electronic Health Record (EHR) Solution

Cook County Health (CCH) is seeking a comprehensive Electronic Health Record (EHR) solution to be implemented across all of its facilities, including John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, Provident Hospital, community health centers, the Department of Public Health, Cermak Health Services, Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Centers, and County Care. The procurement aims to acquire a fully integrated EHR system that provides end-to-end functionality from patient registration through clinical care, discharge, billing, and payment remittance. Proposers must have at least seven years of proven EHR implementation experience, with prior successful deployments in large public health systems, and must comply with current ONC Health IT Certification Program requirements. The RFP was released on November 18, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference scheduled for December 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM Central Time. Vendor questions are due by December 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM Central Time, and written proposals must be submitted through the Bonfire portal by January 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time. The evaluation period is anticipated from January 23 through March 2, 2026, followed by vendor presentations from March 3 through April 17, 2026, with negotiations occurring from April 17 through May 29, 2026, and final award notification expected by June 22, 2026. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point matrix, with 30 points for functionality and workflow, 25 points for partnership characteristics and integration, 25 points for technology and hosting capabilities, and 10 points for pricing.

The procurement includes a significant Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) participation goal of 35%, with proposers required to submit a detailed Utilization Plan documenting their commitment to engaging certified MBE/WBE firms. The current environment includes Cerner-based systems across inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency department operations, with over 90 integrated third-party systems such as laboratory information systems, radiology solutions, and pharmacy management. While no specific funding amount is disclosed, the contract will have an initial seven-year term with options for two additional five-year extensions. Proposers must provide comprehensive pricing, including subscription fees, implementation costs, maintenance expenses, and any other applicable charges. The master services agreement template indicates that the maximum contract amount will require approval by the CCH Board of Directors and is subject to appropriations. Insurance requirements are stringent, with vendors needing to maintain multiple coverage types, including cyber liability insurance with a minimum $10,000,000 aggregate limit. The procurement emphasizes the need for a solution that can support diverse clinical settings, including inpatient, outpatient, detention health, dental, and research operations, with robust integration capabilities across various healthcare systems and platforms.