PO21-083 Rebid Prepaid Gift Card IFB, AW

The State of Illinois, through the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) to establish a multi-year Agency Specific Master Contract for Prepaid Gift Cards. The selected vendor will be required to provide administrative support services, including restricting gift card use and establishing an online portal to track card issuance to specific client and youth IDs, as well as card transactions. The Department seeks physical gift cards in values of $164.00, $231.00, and $324.00 to be issued to foster parents, as well as $25.00 electronic cards for youth participation in DCFS surveys. Bids are due by September 9, 2021, and the resulting contract will have an initial term of 5 years with no renewal options. The solicitation requires electronic submissions only, with no paper responses accepted.

This IFB has a 7% Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities (BEP) participation goal, but no small business set-aside. The State may pay the invoice for the cards prior to the vendor loading the funds, and the vendor shall have 10 calendar days from the date of payment to load the funds and provide the cards to DCFS. The contract value to the vendor is the administrative support services and portal development, not the maximum potential value of the card purchases. The incumbent vendor for this contract is Group O, Inc., with a contract value not to exceed $5 million over the 60-month term.