PO26-684 Putative Father Registry

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is requesting bids for operation and maintenance of the Putative Father Registry system under IFB PO26-684, with bids due October 20, 2026 and questions due by October 15. No set-asides or small-business preferences apply.

The vendor must provide comprehensive registry management services including accepting father registrations through online, fax, mail, and in-person methods at a physical office in Illinois; conducting authorized-party searches; processing and maintaining registrations and certifications within 48 hours; managing a billing system for non-DCFS adoption searches; and maintaining disaster recovery capabilities with SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliance certifications. The office must operate Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays, with the vendor responsible for all facility costs. The registry serves a statutorily mandated function under 750 ILCS 50/12.1 to facilitate notification of putative fathers regarding pending adoption proceedings and protect paternal rights.

The initial contract term is 10 years with no renewal options beyond that maximum. The fee-based revenue model charges non-DCFS adoption searches at $75.00 per search; DCFS cases, POS agency field staff, child welfare contributing agencies, not-for-profit legal aid organizations, and attorneys representing adoptive parents in DCFS cases are exempt from charges. All collected fees are deposited directly to the State Treasurer's Office, and the Department retains the right to adjust the fee schedule with 30 days' notice. Funding is obligated under account 001/220 (obligation number 2094869017), though the source does not disclose a specific maximum contract amount. The contract may be partially or fully funded with federal funds, with percentages and amounts disclosed upon notice of award.

Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Bids must remain firm for 90 days from opening. A $15 administrative fee applies to any contract valued at $1,000 or more, deducted from the first payment. Vendors must submit bids electronically through BidBuy and include mandatory documentation: Vendor Disclosure or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure, an Offer to the State of Illinois, and applicable business-enterprise or veterans small-business utilization plans. No bid or performance bond is required. The vendor must eventually cooperate with DCFS's transition of the system to a Department-hosted model as part of the CCWIS/IllinoisConnect project when the Department determines readiness.