Tracking Bracelets for Vulnerable Populations

Cook County Government, through its Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB 2512-08220) for tracking bracelets and related equipment intended for the Cook County Sheriff's Office to monitor vulnerable populations. The procurement requires 1,000 personal tracking units (wearable bracelets), 20 handheld/vehicle-mounted receivers, and train-the-trainer training services. The wristband devices must be tamper-proof, waterproof, adjustable for youth and adults, capable of 24/7 wear, with RF signal penetration of at least one mile and battery life of at least 30 days between charges. Handheld receivers must detect participants within a minimum radius of one-half mile and include audible or visual cues for alerts. All equipment must be replaced within five business days if it fails to meet specifications, and warranty coverage is required for a minimum of one year under normal use. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Central Time via Microsoft Teams, written questions may be submitted through the Bonfire platform by Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time, and bid proposals are due Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time via the Cook County Bonfire portal. Samples of the personal tracking units must be submitted with bids; submissions without samples will not be considered. The contract term is three years with two one-year renewal options available at the Chief Procurement Officer's or Cook County Board of Commissioners' discretion, with a maximum three percent annual price increase permitted after the initial 12-month period with proper justification.

The procurement establishes zero percent Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and zero percent Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) participation goals; however, bidders unable to meet these goals must submit a Petition for Reduction/Waiver with comprehensive good faith effort documentation. All MBE/WBE firms included in utilization plans must be certified by recognized entities and provide current Letters of Certification and Letters of Intent at bid submission. Bidders are required to submit the Cook County Economic Disclosure Statement and Execution Document (EDS), which mandates numerous certifications including disqualification attestations related to fraud and corruption, drug-free workplace compliance, tax payment verification, wage theft ordinance compliance, and living wage requirements; false certifications may result in contract termination. Additionally, bidders must complete the Identification of Subcontractor/Supplier/Subconsultant Form (ISF) for each subcontractor or supplier utilized on the contract, and the devices shall not require personal mobile devices, cellular applications, membership or subscription services, or use of trademarked vendor logos, as the Sheriff's Office intends to apply its own branding. The procurement documents do not specify an award value or budget range. All costs including delivery, training, equipment, materials, labor, insurance, applicable taxes, and overhead must be incorporated into bid pricing, with the County retaining the right to reject any products that do not meet specifications and obtain replacement equipment from alternative vendors at the contractor's expense if replacements are not provided within five business days.