Emergency Extension Notice - Halal Meals

The Illinois Department of Corrections has obtained Chief Procurement Office approval for an emergency contract extension for certified halal meals, effective September 20, 2026, through January 31, 2027, at an estimated cost of $1.6 million. This is not a bidding opportunity; it is a notice of an approved emergency extension.

The extension continues Performance Food Group dba Vistar as the sole vendor under the original emergency procurement initiated June 22, 2026, due to delays in the RFP evaluation process for a long-term meal supply contract. The original emergency contract, valued at $776,366.36, ran through September 19, 2026, and provided 47,688 cases of certified prepackaged halal meals in seven meat-containing menu varieties including Scrambled Eggs and Pancake, Lubiah Stew, Biryani Chicken, Chicken Thigh with Rice and Onion, Italian Chicken Rice Lentil, Lentil Stew with Lamb, and Chicken Thighs with Tandoori.

The DOC is legally obligated to accommodate religious dietary requirements for incarcerated individuals. The extension is necessary to maintain meal supply continuity until the competitive long-term contract is awarded and the incoming vendor completes transition. The scope and menu offerings remain unchanged from the original emergency contract.

A new competitive solicitation for the long-term halal meals contract was expected to be published by October 1, 2026, with the emergency contract to be terminated at the earliest practicable date during vendor transition. The DOC examined the BEP-certified vendor pool for the applicable NIGP code and identified only 2 BEP-certified vendors among 145 total registered vendors, resulting in no BEP participation goal for this procurement.