Automated Key Control and Dispensing System

The Utah Department of Corrections is seeking to procure an Automated Key Control and Dispensing System through a sole-source procurement process with Morse Watchmans Inc. The system will replace and upgrade existing key management infrastructure across 34 key cabinets in two correctional facilities (24 at Utah State Correctional Facility and 10 at Compute Utah Correctional Facility), currently managing 3,120 keys. The procurement focuses on hardware for the KeyWatcher platform, designed to enhance key management security and operational efficiency, with capabilities to accommodate various key types and rings and support thousands of authorized users. The system must provide modular expansion capabilities with centralized software management. The procurement is being conducted without standard competitive bidding due to significant transitional costs associated with changing vendors. The contract opportunity was posted on December 8, 2025, with a response deadline of December 15, 2025. No additional dates for site visits, bidders' meetings, or questions were specified in the documentation.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The incumbent vendor is Morse Watchmans Inc., with the existing contract (No. 206231) effective from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2025. The current infrastructure involves 34 key cabinets across two correctional facilities, which requires seamless integration with the new system. The estimated contract value is $300,000, allocated for key-management hardware needs over the next five-year period. The procurement is hardware-only, with no additional software purchases, annual fees, software fees, or mandatory service fees required. Vendors must certify compliance with Utah Code 63G-27, confirming they are not engaged in economic boycotts. The Division of Purchasing reserves the right to accept challenges from other qualified vendors who can demonstrate comparable system capabilities and lower transitional costs during the public notice period.