Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. NatureServe is uniquely qualified to provide development, hosting, and maintenance for the environmental review tool website as well as the Biotics database and application because NatureServe developed these online tools for state Natural Heritage programs in its capacity as a non-profit organization that was created to provide technical support for state Natural Heritage programs. IDNR's Division of Natural Heritage already uses the Biotics system, it is in service and being used by staff within Natural Heritage and the Impact Assessment Section. NatureServe has hosted and maintained the Biotics database for Illinois since February of 2003. Prior to that, Illinois used NatureServe's Biological Conservation Database (BCD) that was developed in 1988. The core set of data maintained in Biotics is what is needed in an environmental review tool to screen projects for endangered and threatened species locations, and natural area and nature preserve boundaries, for example.
