Emergency notice - statewide - commissary items - vistar

The Illinois Department of Corrections, Fiscal Services Division, through the State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services, awarded an emergency purchase for statewide commissary services to Performance Food Group dba Vistar on May 29, 2026, with a contract value of $6 million and performance through August 27, 2026.

This is an emergency procurement, not a competitive solicitation. The Department initiated the emergency purchase due to the absence of an executed long-term statewide commissary contract; previous competitive procurement efforts resulted in protests that prevented successful contract implementation. The vendor was selected based on operational capacity, established distribution network, specialized correctional experience, comprehensive product catalog of correctional-approved items, and ability to immediately meet statewide demand across multiple facilities.

The scope encompasses approved commissary items including food, clothing, health and beauty products, sundries, and electronics provided to individuals in custody and correctional facility employees across the state's correctional facilities. The Department reviewed the Commission on Equity and Inclusion's directory of certified Business Enterprise Program vendors but determined that limited certified firms possessed the necessary capacity, inventory, distribution network, and correctional experience required for statewide commissary services. The Department identified only limited subcontracting opportunities in transportation-related services but determined that establishing new subcontracting arrangements would require additional time that could jeopardize service continuity.

The emergency purchase is intended as a temporary solution to maintain uninterrupted commissary operations while the Department, in coordination with the Chief Procurement Office for General Services, finalizes a Request for Proposals for a permanent statewide contract. The Department committed to continuing evaluation of certified vendor participation opportunities as part of its ongoing efforts to establish a competitively procured long-term contract.

Funding is from state appropriated funds.