New Dehumidification Unit / Margaret Cross Norton (Archives) Building

The state of Illinois, specifically the Illinois Secretary of State, is procuring a new dehumidification unit for the Margaret Cross Norton (Archives) Building located in St. Clair County. The existing dehumidification system has reached the end of its useful life, and replacement parts have become difficult or impossible to obtain. The new system is required to maintain the proper temperature and humidity levels necessary to preserve the state's valuable archived collection, which includes documents signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The state has identified Henson Robinson Company as the sole source vendor for this procurement, as their proposed Trane unit can be retrofitted into the existing mechanical connections, avoiding significant construction costs that would be required for alternative equipment. The state will host a public hearing on January 14, 2021 to receive input on the sole source justification. The estimated value of the initial term is $425,000, and the project will be funded with state operating funds.

This is a sole source procurement, and no competitive bidding process was undertaken, as the agency determined Henson Robinson Company to be the sole economically feasible source. The procurement does not appear to include any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The state has an existing relationship with Henson Robinson Company, and this purchase will obligate the state to the vendor for future maintenance and service needs.