Sole Source for CY25 USTA Membership

The State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), specifically the Office of Tourism, intends to award a sole source contract to the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) for an annual membership for Calendar Year 2025. This procurement is for a comprehensive tourism industry membership that provides critical services including access to research data, complimentary event registrations, networking opportunities with tourism leaders, and strategic insights to attract consumers to Illinois. The membership is specifically required for participation in IPW, the largest international travel trade show, which will be held in Chicago in June 2025. The contract will have a one-year term from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, with no renewal options. A public hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM CST, and interested parties must submit written comments or request a public hearing by November 8, 2024 at 4:00 PM CST. The sole source justification is based on USTA being the only national organization representing the entire U.S. travel industry, with no alternative vendors capable of providing equivalent services.

There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational respondents mentioned in the procurement documents. The incumbent vendor is the U.S. Travel Association, which has provided this membership to the Illinois Office of Tourism annually since 2015. The contract value is fixed at $105,000 for the one-year term, which is a standard pricing structure for all members. Funding will be provided through state appropriated funds, and the Office of Tourism has determined the price to be fair and reasonable based on the unique features and services provided. The membership is considered critical for supporting Illinois's tourism industry, which generates $47.2 billion annually. No integration with existing infrastructure or technology is specifically noted, and the procurement appears to be a straightforward annual membership renewal with established parameters.