26-557THA-BUSSY-B-49685 | SS-TRMMP-Toll Revenue Management and Maintenance Program Systems

The contract titled "SS-TRMMP-Toll Revenue Management and Maintenance Program Systems" (Solicitation Number 26-557THA-BUSSY-B-49685) is a sole-source procurement awarded by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, with performance centered in Downers Grove, Illinois. It involves a three-year bridge contract from January 31, 2026, through January 30, 2029, valued at approximately $10.7 million, for the ongoing support and maintenance of the proprietary Host System and legacy Violation Processing System used for toll revenue management. These systems process around one billion toll transactions annually, generating daily revenues approximating $1.6 million and approximately $1.6 billion annually, making uninterrupted operation critical to state revenue collection and business continuity. The contract bridges the period until a new back-office system procurement and implementation, projected within 18 to 24 months after commencement, safeguarding operational stability and regulatory compliance. The sole-source justification rests on the proprietary nature of the electronic toll collection technology developed and uniquely integrated by Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC), the incumbent vendor with exclusive technical knowledge and established system control. No economically or technically feasible alternatives exist, rendering competition impractical and hazardous to operations. A public sole-source hearing held in November 2025 affirmed ETC's unique qualifications and the necessity of a single-source award under Illinois procurement statutes (30 ILCS 500/20-25 and 44 Ill. Admin. Code 1.2025). The contract encompasses continuous system maintenance including testing, upgrades, security patching, financial data archiving, and compliance monitoring. Inspection and acceptance occur at the place of performance, with government oversight ensuring adherence to operational, financial, technical, and security standards throughout the contract term. This non-competitive award is explicitly time-limited and may be terminated early if the replacement system becomes operational sooner, emphasizing its role as a temporary yet essential operational bridge.