IRB-Grant Management CY2026

The Illinois Racing Board is issuing a Request for Quote (RFQ) for Grant Management Services to oversee the Charitable Grant Award program for calendar year 2026. This procurement seeks a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive grant management, oversight, and auditing services for the Illinois Racing Charity Grant, which distributes $750,000 annually to non-profit organizations providing wellness services to persons residing or working on the backstretch of Illinois pari-mutual racetracks. The scope of work includes research and compliance review of relevant statutes and regulations, consultation on grant agreements and budgets, on-site grantee monitoring visits and technical assistance, review of quarterly and final financial and performance reports, communication with the Illinois Racing Board and grantees throughout the year, budget amendment review, and development of closeout documentation. The contract term is sixteen months, spanning from January 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, with no renewal options. Pricing is structured as an hourly rate contract with vendors required to quote a unit price for 325 hours of grant management services, with all quoted prices remaining valid for 180 days from submission and remaining firm throughout the contract term with no price increases permitted. The RFQ was posted on December 3, 2025, with a response due date of December 10, 2025. Vendors must submit standard certifications and terms and conditions as required forms at the time of bid submission, with the contact for this opportunity being Melissa Glidden at the Illinois Racing Board, located at 555 W Monroe Street, Suite 1700S, Chicago, Illinois 60661.

All vendors responding to this procurement must comply with the Standard Illinois Certifications (Version 26.2), which establish mandatory compliance requirements covering 34 distinct areas including legal eligibility, financial standing, ethical conduct, labor practices, and regulatory compliance. Key certification requirements include business registration and legal entity status, absence of educational loan defaults, no felony convictions or specific financial crimes, freedom from environmental violations, tax compliance, drug-free workplace policies, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity requirements, forced labor prohibitions, cybersecurity compliance, and political contribution restrictions. Vendors must also certify they have not engaged in bid rigging, bribery, collusion, or violations of the Revolving Door provisions, and must comply with Illinois-specific requirements regarding domestic product preferences, employment posting obligations on IllinoisJobLink.com, and information technology accessibility standards. All subcontractors must be bound by these same certifications, and vendors are required to incorporate the Standard Illinois Certifications into all subcontracts used in contract performance. The RFQ does not specify information regarding set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, incumbent vendors, or explicit budget ranges beyond the stated annual grant distribution amount of $750,000. Non-compliance with the Standard Illinois Certifications carries significant penalties, including contract voidance, suspension, debarment, denial of payment, civil fines, or criminal penalties, with false certifications subjecting vendors to liability under the Illinois False Claims Act.