State Use DHR-CDHC-HelpStopHate Chicago Lighthouse

This is a Notice of Award for a State Use Program contract issued by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office for call center and contact/referral center services supporting the Help Stop Hate Helpline. The contract has been awarded to The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, a nonprofit organization serving individuals who are blind or have low vision. The primary deliverables include management of incoming and outgoing calls, incident response operations, and referral services through the helpline administered by the Illinois Commission on Discrimination & Hate Crimes. The contract (Bid Number 26-442DHR-MGMTO-B-51306) features an initial 12-month term with two additional 12-month renewal options. The Notice of Award was posted on March 2, 2026, with a due date of March 16, 2026, though this represents notification of intent to award rather than an active bidding opportunity. No specific evaluation criteria, bidders' meetings, site visits, or question deadlines are referenced in the procurement materials, as this constitutes a non-competitive State Use Program award.

This procurement is restricted to eligible vendors under the State Use Program, which designates awards to nonprofit organizations serving people with disabilities. The Chicago Lighthouse has been selected as the sole contractor for this award, with no unsuccessful bidders reported and no Business Enterprise Program or Veterans Business Program utilization requirements applied. The total contract award amount is $652,427, comprised of an initial 12-month term valued at $209,004, a first renewal term at $217,364, and a second renewal term at $226,059. The contract agency contact is Bryant Dunbar at the Illinois Department of Human Rights, located at 555 West Monroe Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60661. This award represents a non-competitive procurement process characteristic of State Use Program designations, limiting future bidding opportunities for this specific contract scope.