Cancelation IFB Employee Assistance Program Services, Peer Support Group, Trauma Workshops

The Illinois Tollway Authority issued solicitation number 25-557THA-PROCU-B-49769 for comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Services, including Peer Support Group Training and Trauma-Based Workshops aimed at supporting the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of its employees and their eligible family members throughout the State of Illinois. The original contract (referenced as contract number 25-0041) was intended to have a base term of three years with options to extend up to a total of ten years. The scope included delivering short-term counseling, crisis intervention, targeted trauma programs for roadway teams, supervisor training to identify at-risk employees, and maintaining a presence at health and wellness fairs. Vendor obligations required adherence to confidentiality, professionalism, and robust reporting, with staff meeting specified education and experience standards. Additionally, the contract demanded compliance with state laws and procurement policies, including submission of Business Enterprise Program (BEP) utilization plans aimed at promoting minority, women, disabled, and veteran business participation within subcontracting commitments. This solicitation was canceled under Illinois procurement regulations (JCAR 1.2040[b][1]) because it failed to sufficiently address or evaluate all factors of significance to the State, specifically lacking a complete and adequate evaluation framework. Despite the cancellation, key vendor instructions and compliance criteria were established, including mandatory electronic bid submission via the BidBuy portal, required attachments such as signed contracts, an Offer to State form, BEP commitment documentation, and vendor disclosure forms (either Illinois Procurement Gateway registered vendor disclosures or vendor disclosure forms for non-IPG registered entities). Questions were to be submitted in writing prior to the deadline, and bids had an August 12, 2025 submission cut-off. The solicitation also emphasized diversity goals, requiring primes either to be certified BEP/Veteran Business Program firms or to subcontract with certified entities, with formal utilization plans and letters of intent forming binding components of awarded contracts. Although contract administration contacts and vendor liaison roles were identified, no pricing information, detailed evaluation factors, or inspection and acceptance criteria were finalized due to the cancellation. The procurement process is expected to be reissued, and interested parties were advised to monitor BidBuy for future opportunities.