Emergency Notice-Chiller Rental Chicago Med Ctr

The State of Illinois, Central Management Services, Division of Bureau of Strategic Sourcing, has declared an emergency and awarded a sole-source contract to The Stone Group for the rental of a 500-ton chiller unit at Chicago Medical Center, 1950 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, with public notice posted July 29, 2026 and a final cost certification deadline of August 10, 2026.

On July 27, 2026, lightning struck a York chiller at the facility, rendering it inoperable with parts unavailable for immediate replacement. The State determined that emergency rental of a 500-ton chiller was necessary to maintain safe building temperatures and protect employee and public safety during high-temperature and humid weather. Work commenced on July 28, 2026 under 30 ILCS 500/20-30 emergency procurement authority.

The Stone Group, located at 300 W. Jefferson, Springfield, Illinois, was selected as the sole vendor due to the specialized size requirement and immediate availability of the equipment. The State made best efforts to include Business Enterprise Program (BEP) certified contractors but determined that no BEP vendors registered in the relevant commodity code possessed a 500-ton chiller unit capable of immediate deployment. No active State contract was identified as meeting the emergency need.

The estimated expenditure is $125,000, designated as State Appropriated Funds. Actual costs differing from the estimate require submission of an Emergency Final Cost form by August 10, 2026. Martha Blackwell, Facilities Portfolio Manager, authorized and signed the emergency purchase statement on July 28, 2026, certifying that the procurement was made with as much competition as practicable under the circumstances.