SMALL PURCHASE WITH SOLE SOURCE CONDITIONS Cahokia Mounds SHS Mound 72 Exhibit Modifications

The state of Illinois, specifically Madison County, is seeking a small purchase procurement with sole source conditions for exhibit modifications at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The project involves Taylor Studios designing and fabricating a new exhibit for Mound 72, with specific deliverables including exhibit and graphic design, exhibit fabrication and installation, and new interpretive materials. Key objectives include removing the existing life-sized mannequin from an acrylic display case and replacing it with a detailed model showcasing the landscape around Mound 72, complete with multiple mounds and a raised walkway connecting Mound 72 to an adjacent burial mound. The exhibit will incorporate a lighted component to illustrate solstice sunrise and sunset positions relative to Mound 72, and will include a replacement didactic label for the exhibit case. The procurement opportunity was posted on November 4, 2025, with proposals due by November 7, 2025. The total project cost is $22,000, broken down into $5,000 for exhibit and graphic design and $17,000 for fabrication and installation, with a one-year warranty provided by the vendor.

The contract appears to be a direct sole source procurement without specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Taylor Studios is the sole vendor identified for this project, with no indication of competitive bidding or alternative vendor considerations. The procurement does not specify disadvantaged enterprise requirements or preferences. The vendor will retain ownership of all sketches, drawings, molds, and prototypes, and requires client authorization to proceed, with the expectation that the client will make decisions and approvals within two business days. Payment options include check, electronic funds transfer, or credit card (with an $800 convenience fee for credit card transactions). The quote excludes prevailing wages, taxes, building permit fees, engineering stamps, special certifications, performance bonds, and payment bonds. The project is subject to the State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office General Services Standard Terms and Conditions (Version 23.2), which provides a standard framework for state contract requirements.