Technical Supportive Services for Districts 7 - 9 - RFP

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Technical Supportive Services for Districts 7 through 9, seeking a qualified vendor with experience in the state's transportation-related construction industry. The primary objective is to provide technical assistance and outreach to IDOT's Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) within these districts, including direct services such as cost estimating, certified payroll guidance, and navigating IDOT requirements. The vendor must maintain an office in one of the three districts and provide a project manager with a minimum of 5 years of DBE program experience. Proposals will be evaluated based on the vendor's capability, experience, technical approach, and resources, with a minimum technical score of 650 out of 800 points required to advance to price evaluation. The initial contract term is two years, with an option to renew for an additional two years, and pricing must be submitted as fully-loaded hourly rates for Project Manager and Trainer labor categories. The RFP was posted on October 31, 2024, with proposals due by November 20, 2024.

The procurement includes a mandatory 27% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal, with current DBE certification numbers ranging from 12 to 64 firms across the three districts. The State reserves the right to cancel the award if the proposed pricing is not considered fair and reasonable, and vendors must complete comprehensive vendor disclosure forms, including information about subcontractors, business operations, and potential conflicts of interest. Expenses are not allowed under the contract, and vendors must comply with detailed reporting requirements, including quarterly FHWA reports limited to 15 billable hours per quarter. The total estimated annual hours are 270 for District 7, 300 for District 8, and 280 for District 9, with pricing submitted as fully-loaded hourly rates. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the pricing table in the attached Excel document provides a framework for the potential contract value. The procurement emphasizes compliance with state and federal DBE participation regulations and requires extensive documentation of supportive services provided to DBE firms.