Exempt Notice - DOI Exempt procurement Report - March FY 2025

The Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) has issued an Exempt Notice for procurement of marketing and communication support for the Illinois State Based Exchange (Get Covered Illinois or GCI), utilizing a procurement code exemption under Section 1-10(b)(22) for Health Benefits Exchange services. The contract opportunity, identified as State Local Contract Opportunity ID 682c07925a4c3c4ebb00d210, was posted on May 19, 2025, with a response deadline of May 30, 2025. The primary objective is to secure comprehensive marketing and communication services to support the state's health insurance exchange platform. The current identified contractor is Marketing for Change Co., which has been awarded a three-year contract from 3/27/25 to 3/26/28. Specific deliverables likely include strategic marketing communications, public outreach materials, and support for promoting health insurance enrollment through the state-based exchange platform. The procurement is being conducted as an exempt contract, which means standard competitive bidding processes have been waived under specific statutory provisions.

The contract appears to be unrestricted in terms of vendor qualifications, with a substantial total contract value of $6,955,707.86. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned in the documentation, the procurement follows Illinois state guidelines for transparent contract reporting, including mandatory publication in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for contracts exceeding certain monetary thresholds. The exemption falls under a specialized category for health benefits exchange support, suggesting a targeted approach to procuring technical and communication services. The contract encompasses a comprehensive scope of marketing and communication support, indicating a preference for vendors with demonstrated expertise in healthcare communication, public outreach, and insurance enrollment strategies. Monthly reporting to the chief procurement officer is required, ensuring ongoing oversight and accountability for the contracted services. The significant contract value suggests a complex, multi-year engagement with substantial expectations for marketing and communication support for the state's health insurance exchange infrastructure.