Fire Alarm Inspection - 3/1/26 to 2/28/27

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy located in Adams County, is procuring fire alarm systems maintenance and inspection services through a sole source procurement method. The contract encompasses quarterly inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair services for Simplex Grinnell 4010 and 4100 series fire alarm systems across twenty-seven buildings on the main campus. Deliverables include quarterly testing of twenty-five percent of all monitor and control points on a rotating basis to ensure annual testing of all devices, functional testing of initiating devices, visual inspection of lightning arresters and surge suppressors, and comprehensive written inspection and performance reports. Services must be performed during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays) and coordinated through the Facility Chief Engineer to prevent system disruption. The contract term runs from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, with no renewal options. The bidding deadline is February 18, 2026, with written comments or public hearing requests due by February 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. to Dianne Richman at the Chief Procurement Office for General Services. A public hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. via WebEx for interested parties to present testimony regarding the sole source justification.

This procurement is designated as a sole source award to Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP based on the proprietary nature of the Simplex system, which can only be serviced by Johnson Controls factory-trained and certified technicians with access to proprietary software, programming, and key codes. Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP is the incumbent vendor, having provided continuous fire alarm services to the Illinois Veterans Home since at least 2021 under previous small purchase contracts totaling $305,070 cumulatively. The selected vendor must possess current certifications, access to the latest software revisions, and direct technical support from the manufacturer; the Peoria district office is identified as the only factory-trained and certified service provider for these systems in the region. The service package includes Johnson Controls' Expert Plan coverage encompassing testing, inspection, labor, parts coverage, peripheral component replacement, electronic reporting, battery replacement, sensitivity testing, remote service support, and customer portal access. The contract value is $205,068 for the initial term, with pricing determined at market value based on comparable Simplex system contracts and reflecting cost of living adjustments and parts increases, including additional costs associated with the newly opened Long Term Care building. Funding is provided through State Appropriated Funds, and the Illinois Business Enterprise Program Utilization Plan applies, requiring demonstration of good faith efforts to utilize certified minority-owned, woman-owned, disability-owned, and veteran-owned enterprises, with aspirational goals of 30 percent utilization for diverse businesses and 3 percent for service-disabled veteran-owned and veteran-owned small businesses.