SSA IDOC RFID Monitoring (Uniqueness).pdf.docx

Idaho Department of Correction Sole Source Authorization Request (attachment) Describe what makes this Product or Service unique.

This product is unique because it is the only solution that offers tracking at the resident level, offers live temperature readings, movement and non-movement, and cell phone detection within a single RFID tracker. Most of the RFID trackers on the market are for logistics and warehousing, not people. Historically GPS has been used for monitoring people, however GPS is broad and cannot tack at the individual level within a specific designated space – such as a prison unit or tier. There are many vendors that offer GPS tracking, but only a handful of vendors that specialize in RFID for jails and prisons. Of that handful, only two vendors have prison experience.

If we were to write a solicitation for this product, we would require vendors with prison experience. While jail is similar to prisons there are distinct differences. Jails are much smaller and generally house inmates convicted of minor/misdemeanor crimes. The security for a jail is less stringent than in IDOC prisons where people convicted of felonies live for longer period of times, have felony convictions, mental health concerns, and instances of violence. Because prisons are much larger, more staff are required to monitor residents and detect contraband. This solution will automate and visualize monitoring, detect contraband, and monitor “aliveness” in a single RFID monitor.

Through market research (attached) we have determined that only two vendors provide prison RFID experience and only one of those provides RFID that can detect cellphones in a single RFID tracker that also tracks the other health and movement requirements. Detection Innovation is the OEM and SaaS provider of iLink monitoring. iLink is the only system that addresses two predominant problems in the corrections industry: staff shortages and contraband cell phone use.

The iLink system is protected by five patents covering the core cell phone interdiction, ankle worn monitor, and staff and resident monitoring capabilities. It is only available directly from DI Group. DI Group is the sole source for an integrated system utilizing secure inmate-worn monitoring devices and proprietary software that addresses staffing shortages by reducing officer workload, providing advanced monitoring tools (including contraband cell phone reporting), and improving officer and resident safety.

Patents As mentioned above the system is protected by five patents. Below are the two most relevant patents to this solution.

US-20230414106-A1 A method and apparatus of detecting life in a wearer of a body-worn device includes at least a temperature sensor and a motion sensing device (e.g., an accelerometer) interfaced or within the body-worn device, each coupled to the wearer of the body worn device to measure body temperature of the wearer as well as movement of the wearer. Further sensors such as heart beat sensors are also anticipated for improved accuracy. The method and apparatus of detecting life declares that the wearer is dead after successive periodic readings of temperature have continually changed at a predetermined rate and no movement has been detected by the motion sensing device for a predetermined period of time. In some embodiments, the motion sensing device is a three-axis accelerometer.[footnoteRef:1] [1: https://patents.justia.com/patent/20230414106]

US-20210201651-A1 A method of detecting and disabling offending devices includes monitoring for a radio frequency signal. When an offending device initializes and registers with a cell tower, it emits the radio frequency signal. After the radio frequency signal is detected, a message including an identification of the radio frequency signal is transmitted to a receiver of a base station. Responsive to receiving the message, the base station sends a secure transaction that includes an indication of the radio frequency signal to a processor of a cellular carrier system. Responsive to receiving the secure transaction, the processor of the cellular carrier system correlates a time and the radio frequency signal with an account associated with the registration of the offending device, disconnects from the offending device, and disables an account associated with the offending device.[footnoteRef:2] [2: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210201651A1/en]