Sole Source Illinois Population Estimates Program

This is a sole source contract opportunity posted by the State of Illinois for the Illinois Population Estimates Program. The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) intends to award a one-year contract to the National Opinion Resource Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago to provide consultation services related to establishing the state's own capacity to monitor and report population trends using administrative data sources, rather than relying solely on U.S. Census Bureau data. The initial contract is valued at $870,847 and has no renewal options. NORC has already performed preliminary work under prior emergency contracts, giving them a significant advantage in quickly implementing the program and accessing relevant state data. The state has deemed NORC the most economically feasible vendor to deliver these critical population monitoring and reporting capabilities. The hearing on this sole source award will be canceled unless an interested party submits written comments or requests a public hearing by July 12, 2024 at 4pm.

This is a sole source procurement, so there are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. NORC, as the incumbent contractor, has an established relationship with the state and has completed foundational work that would be difficult for another vendor to replicate in the required timeframe. The state has determined NORC's pricing to be fair and reasonable based on their status as a not-for-profit research organization affiliated with the University of Chicago.