RFP - Retail Payment Solution

The State of Illinois, through the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA), is seeking proposals for a Retail Payment Solution to expand payment options for customers, with a focus on serving unbanked and underbanked individuals. The selected vendor will be required to provide retail locations where customers can make in-person cash payments for I-PASS accounts and toll invoices, as well as offer other payment methods. Key requirements include real-time payment updates, standard API protocols, detailed reporting, and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. Proposals will be evaluated based on responsiveness, commitment to diversity, and pricing, with the contract having an initial term of 5 years and an option to renew for an additional 5 years. Written vendor questions are due by September 6, 2022, at 12:00 pm CDT, and proposals are due on August 30, 2022, at 10:30 am CT through the state's BidBuy procurement platform.

The solicitation includes a 14% Business Enterprise Program (BEP) goal and a 1% Veteran Owned Small Business Program (VOSB) goal. Vendors must submit a Utilization Plan detailing how they will meet these goals or provide good faith efforts. The current incumbent vendor is not mentioned, and the estimated award value is not specified, though the ISTHA estimates up to 250,000 annual payment transactions may be processed through the retail payment locations.