Strategic Intelligence: Why I Filed a FOIA with the Illinois Dept. of Innovation & Technology (DoIT)

Building a technology that saves lives is only half the battle. The other half is understanding the infrastructure it needs to live on.

Recently, I shared my experience filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Illinois State Police (ISP). My goal was simple: to understand the existing landscape of emergency alerting contracts. The response? "No records found."

To the uninitiated, that might look like a dead end. To a founder, that is a pivot point.

Following the Digital Breadcrumbs

If the data isn't with the end-users (ISP), it must be with the architects. That is why I have redirected my new FOIA inquiry to the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT).

DoIT is the engine room of our state's digital transformation. According to their 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, their mission is to "empower state agencies with modern... technology solutions.". They are actively looking to modernize legacy systems—exactly what REVRD does for emergency alerting.

What We Are Looking For

My latest request seeks clarity on the state’s current "Smart State" initiatives and existing digital alerting contracts. Specifically, I am analyzing:

* Vendor Agreements: Who is currently paid to provide safety data?

* Cost Structures: What is the state paying for legacy acoustic solutions vs. digital efficiency?

* Integration Specs: How does the state handle third-party middleware integration?

The Strategic Play

We aren't just filing paperwork; we are building a roadmap for partnership. DoIT has explicitly stated a goal to "Partner with agencies to increase the value delivered to residents".

REVRD aligns perfectly with this. By moving from hardware-dependent sirens to Responder-to-Vehicle (R2V) digital alerting, we offer a software-first solution that fits DoIT’s vision for a "reimagined Illinois government".

The data from this FOIA request will confirm exactly where REVRD fits into the state’s procurement puzzle—moving us one step closer to statewide adoption.

Stay tuned. The future of emergency response is digital, and we are doing the homework to prove it.