SMS-Soprano SEFS

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is pursuing a sole source procurement for Short Message Services (SMS) from Soprano Design Limited, seeking a nine-month contract to bridge technological gaps in customer communication systems. The contract will cover SMS platform access, application support, short code leasing, and per-message delivery services, specifically designed to enable real-time account notifications for over 9 million customers. The procurement is structured as a Sole Economically Feasible Source (SEFS) contract, with a proposed period from June 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026. A sole source hearing is scheduled for June 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM via Webex, with a critical deadline for written comments or hearing requests by May 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The procurement will utilize the BidBuy Reference Number B-47851 and requires vendors to demonstrate an exclusive, fully integrated interface with the Tollway's existing back-office systems.

The contract appears to have no specific set-aside designations or enterprise restrictions. The incumbent vendor, Soprano Design Limited, has an existing technological infrastructure developed through a previous $350,000 investment and has been interfacing with the Tollway's systems since 2017. Pricing will remain consistent with the previous AT&T master contract, featuring tiered messaging rates ranging from $0.009 to $0.013 per message based on volume. The total estimated contract value is $240,000, which will be funded through toll revenue rather than state-appropriated funds. Any potential alternative vendors would need to demonstrate the capability to replicate the existing integrated system, which the Tollway considers prohibitively complex and costly to redevelop. The Chief Procurement Officer will review testimony and written comments to ultimately determine the appropriateness of the sole source procurement method.