FY24-004 cwppg sole source TP

This state and local contracting opportunity is for a sole source contract to be awarded to the Child Welfare Policy Practice Group (CWPPG) by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The contract is for training and consulting services related to the implementation of DCFS's Core Practice Model, including Quality Service Reviews (QSR) and Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTM) training, coaching, and certification. The contract term is from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, with no renewal options, and the estimated contract value is $325,000. DCFS has previously contracted with CWPPG for similar services under a court order, and the department is now building internal capacity to perform the required training and reviews, but still requires CWPPG's expertise, consultation, instruction, and mentoring, particularly due to staff turnover. The sole source is justified due to CWPPG's expertise and the court-ordered nature of the engagement. A public hearing on the sole source procurement will be held on April 12, 2023, unless an interested party submits written comments or requests a public hearing by April 7, 2023.

This sole source contract opportunity is not designated for any specific set-aside categories, but the vendor, CWPPG, is the incumbent contractor and is considered an expert in the implementation of immersion sites, QSR, and CFTM processes. Failure to approve this sole source contract would result in DCFS being out of compliance with a court-ordered consent decree, potentially leading to federal legal action and reduced federal reimbursement. The total contract value is over $1.75 million less than the original sole source estimate.