PO26-002 Sole Source: Northwestern Univ. Trauma/Behavioral Health Research and CANS Project TP

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is pursuing a sole source procurement with Northwestern University's Mental Health Services and Policy Program for a comprehensive trauma and behavioral health research project. The contract, identified as PO26-002, encompasses 14 distinct technical assistance and research initiatives covering areas such as Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) implementations, trauma training, residential treatment performance measures, service provider administration, and intensive placement stabilization evaluations. Specific deliverables include developing specialized assessment tools, conducting training programs, performing data collection and system analysis, and providing technical support for child welfare services that serve over 5,500 youth annually. The procurement is specifically focused on Cook County and will run for one year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Interested parties must submit any written comments or requests for a public hearing by Friday, April 18th, 2025, at 4 p.m. to the designated information contact. The contract represents a continuation of long-standing collaborative work with Northwestern University, which has been extensively involved with DCFS programming since 2007.

The procurement is structured as a sole source contract, effectively restricting competition and selecting Northwestern University based on its unique expertise and historical involvement with DCFS. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the documentation. The contract is funded entirely by state appropriated funds and has a total value of $3,800,109.61. Northwestern University is identified as the sole vendor, with justification based on their proprietary systems, specialized training programs, and critical role in supporting multiple DCFS programs. The university has developed specialized assessment tools, training programs, and data collection systems specifically tailored to DCFS's needs, making them uniquely positioned for this contract. The procurement is further supported by a court-mandated consent decree that requires maintaining current service levels and comprehensive child welfare support systems. The contract emphasizes the potentially disruptive and costly nature of changing vendors, which would likely compromise ongoing services and specialized programming.