EXEMPT NOTICE - ISBE Exempt Procurement Report - March 2026

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued an exempt procurement notice on April 1, 2026, documenting six contracts awarded in March 2026 under exemptions to the Illinois Procurement Code. These contracts address specialized education services including special education complaint investigations, student attendance and chronic absenteeism support services, and special education policy and procedures compliance work. The procurements encompass legal representation for litigation preparation, individual hiring for capacity-building and technical assistance roles, and district-level corrective action plan development and oversight. Contract terms range from three to twelve months, with start dates beginning March 3, 2026, and end dates extending through March 31, 2027. Four contracts were awarded under Procurement Code Section 1-10(b)(4) for hiring individuals as employees rather than independent contractors, while two contracts were awarded under Section 1-10(b)(7) for preparation of anticipated litigation, enforcement actions, or investigations, requiring prior approval from the chief legal counsel. No bidder conferences, site visits, or competitive procurement processes were conducted, as these contracts qualify for exemption under the Illinois Procurement Code. The due date for this exempt notice was April 17, 2026.

All six contracts were exempt from standard competitive procurement requirements under the Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500) and the State Fair Act (20 ILCS 210/7.1), with no specific set-asides, disadvantaged enterprise designations, or restrictions on respondent types documented. No incumbent vendors, current contractors, or renewal options were specified in the procurement report. The combined value of the six contracts totaled $255,334.94, with individual contract amounts ranging from $25,305 to $87,334.06. Three contracts valued at $87,334.06, $27,194.88, and $25,305 were awarded for individual hiring, while two contracts valued at $62,500 and $53,000 were awarded for litigation preparation and related legal services. No funding sources, existing infrastructure requirements, or technology integration needs were specified in the available documentation.