IDOC - Burial Services

The Illinois Department of Corrections, through Centralia Correctional Center, is soliciting competitive bids via a Request for Quote (RFQ) for a three-year burial services contract to serve individuals in custody who are wards of the state. The procurement, published as a Small Purchase on BidBuy (Reference #26-426DOC-CENTR-B-51519), requires qualified and licensed vendors to provide comprehensive burial services including transportation of remains to a funeral home, transportation to cemetery, grave plot provision, receptacle, grave digging, and all associated labor, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to complete interment. Vendors must possess all necessary state and local permits and licenses and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. The service provider must take possession of deceased individuals within 24 hours of notification from the facility's Chief Administrative Officer or designee, unless otherwise agreed. Evaluation criteria prioritize the responsive and responsible vendor submitting the lowest price, with pricing structured on an F.O.B. Destination basis, meaning all transportation and handling costs are included in the contractor's fee. Bids are due no later than April 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., with the vendor's bid remaining firm for 120 days from opening. No pre-bid conference has been scheduled. Upon award, the contract will have an initial term of three years commencing upon final execution, with a maximum total contract term not to exceed ten years.

This procurement contains no special set-asides for minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, or small businesses, and all vendors responding to this opportunity are evaluated under the same criteria regardless of business classification. No incumbent vendor information has been identified in the solicitation materials. Subcontracting is not permitted under this contract; the selected vendor must provide all services directly. Vendors must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, Auto Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Workers' Compensation Insurance as required by law, with the State named as an additional insured. Payment will be made in accordance with the State Prompt Payment Act following submission of invoices and proof of completed services, including documentation of plot location, plot number, and results from the medical examiner. The State has not identified a maximum contract amount in the solicitation documents; that amount will be entered by the State prior to contract execution. The contract is funded through the General Revenue Fund, and vendors must comply with all requirements outlined in the Illinois Standard Terms and Conditions and Standard Illinois Certifications documentation.