EMERGENCY NOTICE- COFY26 136 IWAP Services 3/4/26 to 6/1/26

This is an emergency procurement by the State of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, administered through the Chief Procurement Office for General Services, to provide a 90-day continuation of the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP) services within St. Clair County from March 4, 2026 through June 1, 2026. The procurement seeks comprehensive behavioral health support services for veterans and their families, including referral and care coordination, counseling and psychotherapy, prescription facilitation for behavioral health medications, and support services for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, mild traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and related emotional health conditions. The service provider must maintain a toll-free resource and referral line operational Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST, operate a comprehensive website with live chat functionality during those same hours, and manage a statewide network of credentialed, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-accredited behavioral health providers. The emergency procurement was initiated to prevent serious disruption in critical state services affecting health and safety, with the contract period serving as a bridge while the agency develops a competitive solicitation for long-term program administration. The due date for responses is June 1, 2026. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience managing behavioral health support services, existing credentialed provider networks, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation, and technical capability to maintain call center operations and website infrastructure with live chat functionality.

Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) was selected as the vendor for this emergency procurement due to its existing operational infrastructure, established website and call center created in 2023, credentialed provider network, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation, making it the incumbent provider whose previous contract ended on March 3, 2026. The procurement is valued at $84,387.15 in actual costs and is funded entirely through State Appropriated Funds. All vendors must comply with 34 certification requirements under Article 50 of the Illinois Procurement Code, including compliance with prevailing wage requirements where applicable, maintenance of insurance coverage (general commercial liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, auto liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and worker's compensation), drug-free workplace standards, equal employment opportunity compliance, cybersecurity clearance requirements, and prohibitions on forced labor or child labor in foreign-supplied materials. Any contract valued at $1,000 or more requires a $15 administrative fee deductible from the first payment. The state reserves the right to terminate contracts for convenience with thirty days' notice or immediately for cause if performance jeopardizes health, safety, or property, and all contract terms remain subject to availability of appropriated funds and the state's sole discretion regarding budget reductions.