EMERGENCY EXTENSION FY26 Court Reporting Services

The State of Illinois, specifically the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) located in Sangamon County, is seeking an emergency contract extension for court reporting services through Deposition Solutions LLC dba Lexitas. This emergency procurement is designed to fulfill statutory requirements under Section 10-102 of the Illinois Public Utilities Act, which mandates verbatim transcription of Commission meetings and hearings by a certified court reporter. The current emergency contract runs from June 18, 2025, to September 15, 2025, with a proposed extension from September 16, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Key deliverables include comprehensive, certified transcription of all ICC meetings and hearings, ensuring legal compliance and accurate documentation. The procurement requires specialized court reporting skills, with vendors needing specific certification to qualify. The solicitation was posted on August 21, 2025, with proposals due by September 5, 2025, representing a relatively short response window typical of emergency procurements.

No Business Enterprise Program (BEP) participation is possible in this procurement, as no BEP-certified vendors currently hold the required court reporter certification. The incumbent vendor, Deposition Solutions LLC dba Lexitas, will continue service through the emergency extension. The contract value for this extension is $50,000, bringing the total contract value to $160,000. The ICC is simultaneously working on developing a formal competitive bid (IFB) for these services and exploring the potential of hiring full-time staff to handle court reporting internally. Multiple previous attempts to procure these services competitively have been unsuccessful, which has necessitated this emergency procurement approach. The agency's long-term goal appears to be establishing a more sustainable solution for court reporting services, either through a competitive contract or internal staffing.