Exempt Notice-AGR-Exempt Procurement Report-October 2025

The State of Illinois Department of Agriculture has issued an Exempt Procurement Report for October 2025, which documents 18 executed contracts awarded under exemptions authorized by the Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/1-10(b)) and the State Fair Act (20 ILCS 210/7.1). The procurement encompasses diverse goods and services including regulatory program services, trade show booth space, assistive technology solutions, public announcements, and Holiday Box component purchases from small Illinois producers. Key contracts include the Gypsy Moth-Slow-the-Spread Foundation agreement for regulatory program services (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026), trade show booth space contracts with the Institute of Food Technologists and FIGAP (scheduled for late 2025 and mid-2026), a weapons detection system contract with GXC Inc. for assistive technology and reasonable accommodations (August 18, 2025 through October 23, 2025), and an IL Beef Association building lease (October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030). Holiday Box component purchases include specialty food items such as marshmallows, jellies, jams, olive oils, truffles, seasonings, meats, coffee, and beeswax wraps. The report deadline is December 23, 2025. Additionally, the Toll Highway Authority issued a renewal notice for Aldridge Electric, Inc.'s sign panel fabrication and installation services contract, extending the original agreement through December 30, 2026, with no additional renewal funds required.

The exemptions utilized for the Illinois Department of Agriculture contracts reflect specialized procurement authority: sixteen of eighteen contracts were classified under Section 1-10(b)(23) for public announcements and public service programming, two contracts utilized the trade show exemption under Section 1-10(b)(14), and one contract invoked the assistive technology reasonable accommodations exemption under Section 1-10(b)(19). The Aldridge Electric contract renewal includes a Veterans Business Program utilization target of 3.14% per the existing utilization plan. Contract values for the Department of Agriculture exemptions range from $2,525.00 to $100,500.00, with the highest-value award granted to the Institute of Food Technologists for trade show booth space at $100,500.00, while Holiday Box component purchases represent individual contracts ranging from $2,525.00 to $10,050.00. The original Aldridge Electric contract was awarded in January 2021 in the amount of $2,589,883.20, and the renewal extension allows the Tollway to utilize remaining budget from the original award for additional sign fabrication and installation work. These procurements demonstrate the state's utilization of established exemptions for specialized services and continued partnerships with incumbent vendors for critical infrastructure needs.