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Partner with Us to Shape the Future of Early Childhood in Illinois

At the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, we are reimagining what it means to support families with young children during the most formative years of life. Our mission is bold: to make Illinois the best state in the nation to raise a family—and we know we can’t do it alone.

We are seeking innovative, mission-driven vendors to join us in transforming early childhood programs into systems that are integrated, accessible, and deeply responsive to the needs of both parents and providers. Whether it’s through technology, service delivery, community engagement, or operational excellence, your ideas and expertise can help us build a future where every child in Illinois thrives.

Why Partner with Us?

  • Innovation is at our core: We welcome fresh thinking and creative solutions that challenge the status quo.

  • Collaboration is how we work: We believe the best outcomes come from strong partnerships and shared goals.

  • Impact is our focus: Every opportunity supports providers and families during their most vulnerable and important moments—the early years of a child’s life.

  • Vision-driven leadership: Our work aligns with Governor Pritzker’s vision of making Illinois the best state in the country to raise a family.

Explore Opportunities

This is your gateway to procurement opportunities that make a difference. Whether you're a non-profit, a technology start-up, a community-based organization, or a large-scale provider, we invite you to bring your passion, your innovation, and your commitment to equity to the table.

Check back often for new opportunities to support this transformative work.

November Opportunity Highlights

IDEC Data & Analytics Hub – Request for Innovative Solutions (RFIS)

Proposal Due Date: January 5, 2026 at 12 p.m. CT

Description: The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) is seeking an implementation partner for a modern, cloud-based Data & Analytics Hub. This hub will serve as the backbone of IDEC’s integrated data infrastructure, supporting secure, scalable, and user-friendly data systems across early childhood programs. This RFIS is exploratory and may lead to an invitation to negotiate a contract for Phase 1 implementation, beginning in early 2026. The project will support data-driven decision-making and service delivery for children and families.

Ideal Vendor Characteristics:

  • Proven experience with Microsoft Azure-based data platforms, including Azure Data Factory, Azure SQL Hyperscale, and Power BI.

  • Demonstrated success in public sector or multi-agency environments, especially in early childhood, education, or human services.

  • Ability to deliver secure, auditable, and scalable data ingestion and governance frameworks.

 

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) has posted responses to vendor questions received for the Request for Innovative Solutions (RFIS) for the IDEC Data & Analytics Hub, along with Addendum No. 2 to the RFIS.

Addendum No. 2 confirms the posting of vendor questions and responses and extends the RFIS response deadline to January 5, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Vendors are responsible for reviewing all posted materials prior to submitting a response

Please submit all materials to DEC.procurement@illinois.gov by January 5, 2026 at 12 p.m. CT. If you need a folder for your submission, please notify DEC.procurement@illinois.gov by December 22, 2025.

Illinois Department of Early Childhood Procurement Reports

Title Document Year