26-497DVA-CENTR-B-52990 | EMERGENCY NOTICE IDVA Illinois Warrior Assistance Program Services

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has entered into an emergency purchase agreement with Illinois Joining Forces to provide Illinois Warrior Assistance Program services. This contract, valued at 84,387.16 dollars and funded through state appropriated funds, is established on a temporary 90-day basis to ensure continuity of critical services for veterans and their families while the agency completes an internal audit and develops a long-term competitive solicitation. The award was justified under emergency procurement statutes to prevent serious disruptions in health and safety services, leveraging the vendor's existing infrastructure, including a statewide network of credentialed behavioral health providers and a dedicated call center. The scope of work involves holistic resource navigation and case management for veterans facing challenges such as PTSD, mild TBI, military sexual trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Key deliverables include the maintenance of a DVA website and a toll-free resource and referral line operating Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. CST, as well as a 24/7/365 referral line with access to clinicians. Services encompass screening, assessment, care coordination, psychotherapy, and the facilitation of behavioral health medications, alongside legal aid and financial counseling. As a requirement, the vendor must be accredited by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and is mandated to immediately defer all imminent suicide situations to the National Suicide Hotline.