Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

This exemption is for conference meeting facilities, sleeping rooms, catering and audiovisual services for the 2026 Otolaryngology Conference. The conference will be held on February 19, 2026, through February 27, 2026.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for events or activities paid for exclusively by revenues generated by the event or activity, gifts, or donations for the event or activity, private grants, or any combination thereof. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(2)) The estimated contract amount reflects the maximum penalty/liability for sleeping room block and minimum food and beverage obligation should the full conference be canceled within 30 days of event date. The bulk of that liability is associated with contracted sleeping rooms that, with a few exceptions, will be paid for by individual guests.