PO26-012 Agency Re-accreditation Services, TP

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is pursuing a sole source procurement for Agency Re-accreditation Services with Social Current/Council on Accreditation (COA) for fiscal year 2026. The contract will cover a one-year term from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, specifically focusing on maintaining the agency's national accreditation as a State Child Welfare Agency. The primary deliverables include a comprehensive reaccreditation process involving on-site peer reviews of DCFS offices and Central Office divisions, with two peer reviewers conducting a two-day site visit to the Cook County region. The reaccreditation objectives include ensuring compliance with national child welfare standards, mitigating potential risks such as lawsuits and loss of federal funding, and maintaining public confidence in the agency's operations. Key deadlines include a written comment or hearing request deadline of June 13, 2025, at 4 p.m., with the contract opportunity officially posted on June 4, 2025, and proposals due by June 18, 2025. The evaluation appears to be based on the vendor's unique capabilities, specifically Social Current's position as the only national provider of accreditation services for Child Welfare Agencies.

This procurement appears to be a non-competitive sole source contract without specific set-aside designations or enterprise restrictions. Social Current has been the incumbent vendor for DCFS accreditation services since 1996, demonstrating a long-standing relationship with the agency. The total contract value is $140,395, which includes $126,395 for reaccreditation fees, $10,000 for site visit fees specific to the Cook Region, and $4,000 for Maintenance of Accreditation (MOA) fees covering four regions. Funding will be sourced from State Appropriated Funds. The reaccreditation process includes a five-year accreditation period, with provisions for potential extensions at an additional 20% fee per year beyond the initial five-year term. The MOA component requires self-reporting of aggregate data on health, safety, and casework practices, along with reports on critical events and organizational changes. No alternative vendors or competitive bidding process is indicated in the documentation, reinforcing the sole source nature of this procurement.