ISAC - Electronic Transcript Services - Sole Economically Feasible Source

This is a sole source procurement by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for a one-year contract with Parchment Inc. to provide an electronic transcript exchange platform. ISAC requires a comprehensive platform that will allow high schools across Illinois to electronically submit student transcripts to colleges and universities nationwide as part of the college application and enrollment process. Parchment's platform facilitates the secure electronic processing, delivery, and verification of over 220,000 transcript requests annually from Illinois high school students. ISAC has determined Parchment is the only vendor that can meet their needs, as the state's high schools have already been set up to use Parchment's services, and a recent RFP process by the Midwest Higher Education Compact (MHEC) resulted in a contract with Parchment. The proposed contract term is one year, from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, with no renewal options. ISAC negotiated a flat fee of $519,000 for the contract term, rather than paying over $4 per transcript, which would result in a cost over $880,000. The e-transcript service is subsidized by ISAC to ensure an equitable process for students regardless of income level.

As this is a sole source procurement, there are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. Parchment has been the incumbent provider of this service for ISAC since 2011. If the sole source award is not approved, ISAC would be unable to provide continuity of service, causing delays for students in submitting their transcript information to postsecondary institutions and other stakeholders. The estimated value of the initial one-year term is $519,000, which will be funded from state appropriated funds.