IDOC - Correctional Facility Door Locking System - Lawrence

The State of Illinois, specifically the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), intends to award a sole source contract to Willo Products Company, Inc. for the procurement of a Correctional Facility Door Locking System at the Lawrence Correctional Facility. This contract is for the upgrade of a tamper-proof cell door lock system to address security issues that allow unauthorized door openings, posing risks to staff and inmates. IDOC previously conducted a small emergency purchase in FY2021 to install the Willo Products locking system on 20 doors and found it to be the most effective and cost-saving solution. The initial term of the contract is estimated at $4.2 million. A public hearing will be held to determine if the sole source award to Willo Products is justified, and the hearing will be canceled unless an interested party submits written comments or a request for a public hearing by November 26, 2021 at 4 p.m.

The procurement is designated as a sole source, as IDOC has determined that the Willo Products Wedge locking mechanism is a patented product that is compatible with the existing cell door locks and can be installed without extensive renovations. There are no other comparable products available from alternative vendors. IDOC believes that proceeding with a sole source award to Willo Products is the most effective way to ensure facility-wide security and continuity of the door locking system, as opposed to incorporating multiple incompatible systems which would complicate staff training and access. No set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond are mentioned, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed.