Northern Illinois University
Announcement of a Sole Source Purchase
Blackboard, Inc.Washington, DC
- Amount: An estimated $410,005
- Terms: An estimated start date of 8/9/2021 through 8/8/2022, 12 months
- Renewals: None
Summary
Vendors
1 total
0 BEP vendors
0 VBP vendors
0 Small businesses
The University award process may be delayed up to thirty days as this award goes through a state approval process.
The hearing has been cancelled since no vendors registered to attend or submitted comments regarding this notice.
First published Friday, January 22, 2021
The University awarded a contract for Blackboard Learn Maintenance, Hosting, and Support to Blackboard, Inc., Washington, DC, for an estimated $410,005.
This purchase is for the maintenance, hosting, and support of Blackboard Learn products are used extensively by the University's faculty, staff, and students. The Blackboard Learn platform is a course management system that allows distribution and receipt of class material by faculty and students, delivery of tests and surveys, and many other course-related activities. Blackboard Collaborate is an online collaborative learning solution which is used to deliver instruction and to to allow collaboration via virtual meetings. Blackboard Training and Development Management provides capabilities of registration, course catalog, and a payment gateway that allow NIU to host non-degree and non-credit courses.
The university, on information and belief, has concluded that only one vendor can meet its need or can meet the need economically. That vendor is Blackboard, Inc. The university has provided detailed justification to support its conclusion as shown on the attached Sole Source Justification Form. Although the university has presented this as a sole source procurement, we are seeking competitive information from firms with the capability of meeting the university's need (even if performed in a manner different from what has been presented) to contact us and provide sufficient information to show the need can be met. If we receive that information, the Chief Procurement Officer will offer a public hearing to consider the matter. Hearing information is described below. All sole source hearings under the jurisdiction of the Chief Procurement Officer for Higher Education will be conducted by tele-conference only until the in-person option is reinstated. The University has determined that this purchase is only economically available from this source because the compatibility of equipment, accessories, replacement parts, or service is a paramount consideration.
The University has determined that this purchase is only economically available from this source because the procurement is software license, upgrade or maintenance.
For instructions on how to obtain a comprehensive purchase description, disclosure or contract forms, contact:
Antoinette Bridges
Northern Illinois University
Procurement Services & Contract Management
590 College Avenue
Lowden Hall, Room 107
Dekalb, IL 60115-2828
Phone: (815) 753-6727
FAX: (815) 753-6800
Chief Procurement Officer - John Donato
State Purchasing Officer - Catherine Bradbury
The State of Illinois has a policy to encourage prospective vendors to hire
qualified veterans, minorities, females, persons with disabilities and ex-offenders.
