SBE: Sole Source - Brighton Training Group

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) intends to award a sole source contract to Brighton Training Group for Community Nutrition Program (CNP) training modules. The procurement covers specialized online training platforms designed to meet USDA requirements for child nutrition program training, including programs such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and National School Breakfast Program. The training modules will provide 70 interactive, ADA-accessible courses in English and Spanish, requiring participants to demonstrate competency through online assessments. The contract term is one year, spanning from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Interested parties have until August 1, 2025 at 4 p.m. to submit written comments or request a public hearing regarding this sole source procurement. The deliverables include a comprehensive online training system that automates child nutrition provider training requirements, with courses specifically designed to ensure compliance with federal guidelines.

The procurement appears to be unrestricted in terms of small business or disadvantaged enterprise set-asides, with Brighton Training Group being selected based on their unique proprietary training platform. The vendor currently contracts with 17 other state agencies and brings over 100 years of child nutrition experience to the project. The total contract value is $110,500, funded entirely through federal funds. Brighton Training Group's system is positioned as the only USDA-compliant platform capable of completely automating child nutrition provider training requirements, which serves as the primary justification for the sole source designation. The training platform includes a specialized course management software system that provides interactive learning experiences. The procurement leverages an existing technology infrastructure that has been developed specifically for child nutrition program training, with a focus on cost-effectiveness compared to traditional in-person training methods.