TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into agreements with West Publishing Corporation for online legal research and subscriptions to various legal publications, in an amount not to exceed $292,720.92. Accounts 101-30000-612490,623720, Requisition 1663127
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into agreements with West Publishing Corporation for online legal research and subscriptions to various legal publications. The current agreements expire November 30, 2026. The new agreement for online legal research will be for a three (3) year period beginning December 1, 2026 and expiring November 30, 2029. The new agreement for subscriptions to various legal publications will also be for a three (3) year period beginning December 1, 2026 and expiring November 30, 2029.
West Publishing Corporation (“West Publishing”) currently supplies the Law Department with online legal research services and access to various legal publications. West Publishing has a copyrighted key number system, KeyCite system, headnotes, annotations and commentary which are used daily by the Law Department for its legal research. Additionally, except for court decisions, the publications covered under this agreement are copyrighted by West Publishing. In accordance with Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act, since West Publishing is the only source of supply for the services required, nothing would be gained by advertising for bids for these services.
West Publishing Corporation, as the sole service provider of online legal research containing the needed proprietary resources and subscriptions to various legal publications, has submitted prices for the services and materials required by the Law Department. Entering into an agreement for online legal research will allow the Law Department unlimited access to the most current legal material in numerous electronic databases for a discounted flat monthly fee. Entering into an agreement for subscriptions to various legal publications at this time will provide the Law Department with an 82% discount off retail price.
West Publishing Corporation is registered and in good standing with the State of Illinois.
In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue a purchase order and enter into agreements with West Publishing Corporation, for online legal research and subscriptions to various legal publications for a three-year period, in an amount not to exceed $292,720.92.
Funds for the 2026 expenditures, in the amount of $7,858.64, are available in Accounts 101-30000-612490, 623720. The estimated expenditures for 2027, 2028, and 2029 are $94,572.82, $97,812.57, and $92,476.89, respectively. Funds for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:EMA:va
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Precious Brady-Davis, Chairperson, Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 3, 2026