PO25-018 Agency Re-accreditation Services, TP

The State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is seeking to procure re-accreditation services from Social Current/Council on Accreditation (COA) through a sole source contract. DCFS has been accredited by COA since 1996 and is the second state to become accredited and the first to be re-accredited. The proposed 1-year contract term is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, with no renewal options. The total estimated contract value is $138,333, which covers the reaccreditation fee, technical assistance, desk reviews, and maintenance of accreditation. DCFS is required to maintain accreditation to avoid potential lawsuits, loss of federal funding, and damage to public confidence. A sole source justification has been provided, as COA is the sole provider of this accreditation service for child welfare agencies nationwide.

This sole source procurement is limited to Social Current/COA, as they are the only vendor that provides this accreditation service for child welfare agencies in the country. DCFS has consistently utilized COA for accreditation services over the past 25 years, and the pricing is based on the agency's legislatively-approved budget. A public hearing will be held on June 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. CST to receive input on the appropriateness of the sole source award, unless written comments or a request for a public hearing is submitted by May 31, 2024.