Emergency Extension Notice-Climate Bank Federal Funding Tax Consultant

The state of Illinois, specifically Cook County, is seeking an emergency extension for a Climate Bank Federal Funding Tax Consultant contract with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP. The procurement focuses on comprehensive tax and advisory services to support the implementation of federal financial assistance programs for energy efficiency and clean energy resources. Key objectives include facilitating state project tax credit processes for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Federal Credits, providing pre-construction tax credit eligibility assessments, post-construction tax credit substantiation, and direct pay filing processes for the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) and state agency projects. The original emergency contract, initially set from June 26, 2025, to September 23, 2025, is proposed for extension from September 24, 2025, to September 23, 2026, with a critical timeline driven by the rapidly closing window for federal tax credits. The contract requires a tax consultant with expertise in renewable energy project financing, federal tax credit mechanisms, and detailed knowledge of IRA credit processes. The due date for this emergency extension notice is October 7, 2025, with the primary evaluation criteria focused on the vendor's ability to maximize federal tax credit opportunities and support state decarbonization efforts.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations are explicitly mentioned in the documentation. The incumbent vendor is Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP, which will continue to provide tax advisory services. The contract value is proposed to increase from $250,000 to $1,000,000, reflecting the expanded scope and critical nature of the federal tax credit support. The existing infrastructure involves integration with the Illinois Finance Authority's project development processes and coordination with state agencies involved in renewable energy initiatives. The emergency extension is justified by the urgent need to capture time-sensitive federal tax credits, with potential significant financial implications for Illinois taxpayers and renewable energy developers if the advisory services are not secured. The procurement aims to ensure that renewable energy projects remain viable and financially attractive by providing expert tax credit consultation and filing support.