University of Illinois at Chicago
Exemption #VLH405
Announcement of an Exempt Purchase
Award Info Published Thursday March 12, 2026
Cardinal Health IncColumbia, MD
- Amount: An estimated $1,000,000
- Terms: An estimated start date of 3/6/2026 through 6/30/2030
- Renewals: None
Summary
Vendors
1 total
0 BEP vendors
0 VBP vendors
0 Small businesses
The University award process may be delayed as this award goes through a state approval process.
First published Thursday, March 12, 2026
The University awarded a contract for Specialty Pharmaceutical Products.
Cardinal Health provides specialty pharmaceutical products to hospitals. One of the products is Yescarta, which is a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy used in patients who have failed previous cancer treatment. It is considered a last line option and is currently being used in patients at UI Health.
This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) It is important to have access to this specific drug. If the hospital is unable to purchase Yescarta and others medical drugs from Cardinal Heath, UI Health will not be able to provide this life saving treatment and patients will have to be referred to other medical centers.
For instructions on how to obtain a comprehensive purchase description, disclosure or contract forms, contact:
Vernell Hammons
UIC Purchasing and Contract Management
809 S. Marshfield Ave.
3rd floor (MC 560)
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 996-3409
FAX: (312) 996-3135
UIC Purchasing and Contract Management
809 S. Marshfield Ave.
3rd floor (MC 560)
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 996-3409
FAX: (312) 996-3135
The State of Illinois has a policy to encourage prospective vendors to hire qualified veterans, minorities, females, persons with disabilities and ex-offenders.