Sole Source: J&B Software maintenance and support TMS SYSTEM

The Illinois Secretary of State's Vehicle Services Department is pursuing a sole source procurement for software maintenance and support from J&B Software Inc. for their Transaction Management Software (TMS) system. The contract covers continued proprietary software maintenance specifically designed for processing corporate and vehicle service documents, with unique capabilities to verify amounts, scan checks, and handle special encoding and information placement. A public hearing is scheduled for June 9, 2025, at 2:00 pm in Springfield, IL, with a deadline of June 6, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. for interested parties to submit written comments or request additional hearing details. The procurement is for a one-year term from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with J&B Software being the sole provider due to the proprietary nature of their software. The hearing will be conducted by Katherine Tople from Budget and Fiscal Management, who can be contacted at ktople@ilsos.gov or 217-782-8892 for any inquiries related to the procurement process.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations. J&B Software has been the incumbent vendor for this software maintenance service since July 1, 2015, with consistent annual pricing increases of approximately 3%. The total contract value is $146,428.28, to be funded through State Appropriate Funds. The software is specifically designed to work with XDS scanners and is critical for the Vehicle Services and Business Services departments' operational needs. No potential contract renewals are mentioned in the documentation. The existing technology requires continued maintenance and support from J&B Software, who are identified as the only vendor capable of providing the necessary updates and technical support for the TMS system. The sole source justification is based on the unique and proprietary nature of the software, which has been customized for the specific operational requirements of the Illinois Secretary of State's Vehicle Services Department.