OCA - FY27-28 Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies Training Assistance

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Community Assistance is pursuing a sole-source contract award to the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies for training and technical assistance supporting the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program and related federal programs, with a notice-of-intent due September 9, 2026 and a public hearing scheduled for September 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM via WebEx.

This is a sole-source procurement — the only eligible path under federal law. IACAA is the only ROMA (Results Oriented Management and Accountability)-certified trainer designated to operate in Illinois, and ROMA training is a federal requirement for Community Action Agencies. Failure to award to IACAA would trigger federal CSBG (Community Services Block Grant) compliance violations and potential disallowed costs.

The scope encompasses statewide outreach, education, training, and technical assistance for Community Action Agencies across Illinois, including ROMA training, needs assessments, state reporting, network convening, and ongoing support for the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP), Percentage of Income Payment (PIPP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Community Services Block Grant programs.

The not-to-exceed contract value is $579,400 for the initial term with services required by October 23, 2026. The contract is entirely federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. DCEO negotiated pricing over several months to ensure rates aligned with market value for comparable services. The purchase history shows a continuous relationship since January 2018, with annual sole-source awards ranging from $271,800 to $579,400.

The public hearing will proceed only if an interested party submits written comments or requests a hearing by 4:00 PM on September 4, 2026. Submit comments or hearing requests to Dianne Richman, Chief Procurement Office for General Services, at Dianne.Richman@illinois.gov or 217-622-1857.