FY27-31 Child Care Services - Willard Ice Building

The Illinois Department of Revenue issued a Request for Proposal on February 18, 2026, to procure child care services for the Willard Ice Building located at 101 West Jefferson, Springfield, Illinois. The procurement seeks a qualified, licensed day care provider to operate the state facility, which is licensed for 44 children ages 6 weeks through 6 years old and comprises approximately 2,015 square feet of indoor program space plus 2,227 square feet of outdoor areas. The selected vendor must establish a seamless transition from the current provider and operate the center five days per week, year-round, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closing only on state holidays, commencing July 1, 2026, for an initial five-year contract term through June 30, 2031, with a maximum total contract term not exceeding ten years including renewals. Vendors must maintain DCFS licensing for day care centers, meet all licensing standards, carry comprehensive general liability insurance of $1,000,000 with $5,000,000 annual aggregate umbrella coverage and $1,000,000 vehicle liability coverage, and maintain individual accident insurance of $5,000 per enrolled child. The vendor is responsible for all supplies, equipment, daily cleaning, janitorial services, professional floor cleaning, telecommunications, kitchen equipment, and playground equipment maintenance, while remitting $519.00 monthly in advance to the State for operating expenses and charging non-state employee parents or guardians $10 per child per week above the state employee rate. Evaluation criteria consist of 610 technical points, 122 diversity points, and 146.40 pricing points for a maximum of 878.40 points, with the question deadline of February 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CST and the proposal submission deadline of March 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST through BidBuy. All proposals must include a Vendor Disclosure or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure, technical response, Offer to the State of Illinois, and Commitment to Diversity documentation.

There are no set-asides or restrictions limiting responses to specific organization types; however, the facility prioritizes enrollment for children of Illinois Department of Revenue employees first, then other state agency employees, with non-government employee enrollment permitted only if enrollment drops below 75% for five consecutive weeks. The procurement is structured as a $0 contract whereby the awarded vendor receives weekly fees paid directly by parents or guardians of enrolled children, with no direct state compensation beyond the monthly reimbursement of $519.00 for operating expenses. Vendors must comply with the State's Commitment to Diversity requirements, which allocate 122 of the 878.40 total evaluation points toward diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments, including Business Enterprise Program goal achievement, subcontracting relationships with women, minority, and disability-owned businesses, diversity spending, DEI promotion activities, written DEI policies, and diversity representation across staffing levels. The contract involves no incumbent vendor replacement costs and requires vendors to assume operation of existing state-owned infrastructure and equipment, with any vendor-provided permanent improvements becoming State property upon installation. The evaluation methodology allows vendors to submit exceptions to standard terms and conditions for state consideration, and all submissions must demonstrate full compliance with solicitation requirements or result in disqualification.