Sole Source Public Review - The Justice Journey Experience

City Colleges of Chicago is pursuing a sole source procurement for The Justice Journey Experience, an immersive four-day civil rights educational pilgrimage scheduled for March 4-7, 2026. The procurement involves a comprehensive educational travel program for approximately 20 participants (16 students and 4 chaperones), traversing historical civil rights landmarks in Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham. Key deliverables include round-trip airfare, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, site entry fees, expert presentations, and exclusive program merchandise. The program's objectives center on empowering next-generation leaders to understand systemic racism and develop meaningful action steps toward social change, with specific educational components such as pre-trip preparation, daily small-group reflection circles, participant journaling, and post-trip debriefing. The procurement process includes a public hearing on November 7, 2025, via Zoom teleconference, with potential participants required to register through the Bonfire portal. Evaluation criteria emphasize the vendor's unique pedagogical approach, comprehensive cultural experiences, and ability to provide an integrated educational journey through significant civil rights historical sites.

The procurement appears to be open to all vendors, though a sole source justification has been prepared specifically for The Justice Journey Alliance and Leadership Foundation of Chicago. No explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises are detailed in the provided documents. The total estimated contract value is $48,300, which breaks down to $2,165 per participant for double occupancy, with an additional $5,000 facilitation fee. The funding will be sourced from grant funds, with a budget allocation of $70,300 available for the fiscal year 2026. City Colleges of Chicago has determined that alternative providers lack the integrated cultural experiences and educational depth required, making this a targeted procurement with specific vendor qualifications. The procurement team has validated the pricing as fair and reasonable, noting the comprehensive package includes most travel and educational components with minimal additional costs. Travel insurance is strongly recommended but not included in the base package, with optional single room accommodations available for an additional $325 per participant.