Emergency Notice FY26 DBHR 988 Hotline Training

The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is issuing an emergency notice for a non-competitive contract to provide LGBTQIA+ competency training for 988 crisis hotline counselors. This emergency procurement (Contract B-52244) has been awarded to The Trevor Project, a specialized provider of LGBTQIA+ competency training and crisis support services. The training will be delivered virtually to staff operating Illinois's 988 crisis hotline service, with the primary objective of equipping counselors with specialized knowledge and skills to effectively and affirmatively serve LGBTQIA+ individuals accessing crisis intervention services. The contract addresses an urgent identified gap in existing staff training capabilities, ensuring that hotline counselors can provide competent, affirming support to vulnerable populations in crisis. Key deliverables include the development and delivery of virtual training curriculum tailored to 988 hotline operations. The due date for this emergency notice is July 26, 2026, with the notice having been posted on April 29, 2026. As this is an emergency procurement, standard competitive bidding procedures have been bypassed due to the critical nature of ensuring proper counselor training for 988 hotline operations.

This is not a bidding opportunity and therefore contains no set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types, as the contract has been directly awarded to The Trevor Project based on their specialized expertise in LGBTQIA+ competency training and crisis support services. No incumbent vendors or alternative contractors are listed, as this represents a direct emergency award. The specific contract value or budget range for this emergency procurement is not disclosed in the available documentation. The procurement represents the state's commitment to addressing a demonstrated gap in counselor training and ensuring equitable crisis support services for LGBTQIA+ individuals accessing the 988 hotline throughout Illinois.