PO23-002 DCFS Sole Source Univ of Chicago Chapin Hall Research for Older Adolescents TP

The State of Illinois, through the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), is issuing a sole source contract opportunity to the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. The contract covers 21 separate research, evaluation, data analytics, and implementation support projects related to DCFS initiatives, federal requirements, and consent decree obligations. These projects span a wide range of child welfare topics, including Immersion Sites, Families Together, Residential Monitoring, Continuous Quality Improvement, Early Childhood Court Teams, Home Visiting, Family First, and Wraparound. Chapin Hall has been the long-standing evaluator and thought partner for many of these efforts, possessing the critical historical data, specialized systems, and expertise that cannot be readily replicated. The initial one-year contract term is from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, with an estimated value of $3,760,713. DCFS has determined that Chapin Hall is the only vendor capable of providing these essential services, and the pricing is considered fair and reasonable based on the agency's review and experience.

This is a sole source procurement due to Chapin Hall's unique qualifications and long-standing involvement with the Illinois child welfare system. DCFS has contracted with Chapin Hall for these services over the past decade, spending over $15.8 million in the last five years alone. Changing vendors would be extremely costly and disruptive, as it would require replicating decades of data and methodology at an estimated cost of $7-9 million. Failure to approve this sole source award could jeopardize DCFS's compliance with the BH Consent Decree and the federally mandated Program Improvement Plan, potentially leading to contempt of court and the loss of essential services for youth in care.