FY27 TWE & TOY Awards Banquet

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is requesting quotes for full-service venue and catering services for the FY27 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet, with quotes due August 28, 2026. The event will host 700 to 1,050 attendees on April 24, 2027 (with alternate dates April 17 or May 1, 2027) from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Central Illinois.

The venue must be located in Bloomington, Normal, Peoria, Champaign, or Springfield and include one large ballroom configured for banquet-style seating with round tables of ten, three separate staff and guest meeting rooms, a registration and check-in area with nine tables and photo backdrop station, and complimentary parking. ISBE staff require access at 5 p.m. the evening prior for setup. A room block of 230 guest rooms is required, with 30 rooms direct-billed to ISBE.

Catering includes a plated dinner with meat, salad, starch, vegetable, bread, and dessert for attendees; vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives; deli sandwich meals for 30 student performers and 30 staff or volunteers; and a cash bar plus complimentary soda and water bottle service. Comprehensive audiovisual support is required: four projectors, projection screens, wireless microphones, video switcher, audio mixing equipment, dimmable lighting, and dedicated AV staff for technical direction, audio operation, camera operation, and setup.

Quotes must be submitted as an all-inclusive price covering room rental, table rental, audiovisual services, beverages, and catering for 1,050 attendees, with a separate per-plate price for attendance exceeding 1,050 guests. The vendor must remain onsite throughout setup and the event and provide a quote valid for 180 days. Award will be based on lowest total price among qualified vendors. ISBE is tax-exempt; no third-party subcontractors are permitted. ISBE will provide final attendance counts 14 days prior to the event, with final costs adjusted accordingly.

Vendors must comply with the State of Illinois Standard Certifications document, which establishes 34 mandatory compliance requirements including drug-free workplace, equal employment opportunity, prevailing wage, political contribution restrictions, cybersecurity compliance, and labor standards prohibiting forced labor and child labor. Vendors must certify compliance as a condition of award and recertify by January 1 of each subsequent fiscal year. The State of Illinois Standard Terms and Conditions require general commercial liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence with $2 million annual aggregate, worker's compensation coverage, and a $15 minority contractor initiative fee for contracts exceeding $1,000.