TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 2, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
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Issue purchase orders and enter into agreements for Contract 25-RFP-22 Legal Services for Workers’ Compensation Defense for a three-year period, with the option to extend for an additional two-year period, with Dennis Noble and Associates, P.C. in an amount not to exceed $401,500.00, Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry P.C. in an amount not to exceed $295,000.00, and Rusin Law, Ltd. in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00. Account 101-25000-612430, Requisitions 1645179, 1655700, and 1655791 (As Revised)
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Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue purchase orders and enter into agreements with Dennis Noble and Associates, P.C., Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry P.C., and Rusin Law, Ltd. to provide legal services for Workers’ Compensation Defense on an as-needed basis for the period June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2029, with the option to extend for an additional two-year period. Services to be provided by legal counsel for workers’ compensation claims include advice and counsel on disputed claims and litigated claims, processing of pro se settlements, and representation before arbitrators at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and on appeals.
On December 10, 2025, Contract 25-RFP-22 Legal Services for Workers’ Compensation Defense was publicly advertised. On January 9, 2026, the District received a total of seven (7) responsive proposals from the following vendors: Dennis Noble and Associates, P.C.; Downey & Lenkov LLC; Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP; Keefe, Campbell, Biery & Associates; Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry P.C.; Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath Ltd.; and Rusin Law, Ltd.
The proposals were evaluated by staff from the Human Resources Department, the Law Department, and the Procurement and Materials Management Department. The criteria for these evaluations were outlined in Request for Proposal 25-RFP-22 and included: understanding of the services; approach to the work; technical competence; personnel effectiveness; and specialized expertise. Following the preliminary evaluation of the proposals, all seven (7) proposers were invited to a finalist interview.
Finalist interviews were conducted on February 3-4, 2026. On February 23, 2026, a solicitation was sent to the finalists for an unqualified “best and final” offer. The “best and final” offers were returned to the Director of Procurement and Materials Management on March 2, 2026.
Based on the evaluation of the proposals using the criteria described above and the pricing provided in the “best and final” offer, it is recommended that contracts be awarded to three firms: Dennis Noble and Associates, P.C.; Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry P.C.; and Rusin Law, Ltd. These firms have attorneys on staff with extensive defense litigation experience before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) in Chicago, and the firms demonstrated a clear understanding of the services being requested in 25-RFP-22.
Dennis Noble of Dennis Noble and Associates, P.C. has extensive experience and success in defending the District at the IWCC as well as at the Appellate Court level. Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry P.C. have also been successful in representing the District in the past eight years. Rusin Law, Ltd. demonstrated that they have extensive experience and success representing public entities both at the IWCC and the Appellate Court level.
Affirmative Action Goals under Appendices A and V were not included in this contract due to the scope of services to be performed under this contract, which do not provide practical opportunities for subcontracting.
In view of the foregoing, it is requested that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue purchase orders and enter into agreement with Dennis Noble and Associates, P.C. in an amount not to exceed $401,500.00, Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry P.C. in an amount not to exceed $295,000.00, and Rusin Law, Ltd. in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00.
Funds for the 2026 expenditure, in the amount of $167,500.00, are available in Account 101-25000-612430. The estimated expenditures for 2027, 2028 and 2029 are $250,000.00, $250,000.00, and $104,000.00, respectively. Funds for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budgets for those years.
Requested, Thaddeus J. Kosowski, Director of Human Resources, TJK:BLW
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 April 2, 2026
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