Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Make findings in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17 Section 3.4.2, Sole Source/Single Source that Agreement for Services 9737 with 4Sight Labs Inc., is exempt from the competitive bidding process;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 9737 with 4Sight Labs Inc., to provide wearable biometric health ankle monitors and related technology for inmates for the initial term of one year effective upon execution, at the end of the initial term and on each effective anniversary, this Agreement shall be renewed automatically for consecutive renewal terms of 12 months upon execution and with an amount not to exceed $330,000;
3) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute a Purchase Order with 4Sight Labs Inc. in the amount of $330,000, for one year and perpetually renewable thereafter at an approved quoted rate, for the purchase and use of wearable biometric health ankle monitors and related technology; and
4) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 9737, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Inmate Trust Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
County jails nationwide are facing escalating challenges in managing inmate health, driven by a growing population with chronic medical conditions, substance use disorders, and mental health needs. These factors have increased the complexity of providing safe, effective, and timely medical care in custody settings.
Locally, the County Jail has observed a notable rise in medical incidents requiring urgent intervention. Many of these incidents could potentially have been mitigated or prevented through earlier detection of medical distress. Current inmate medical monitoring relies on a combination of scheduled wellness checks, inmate self-reporting, and direct observation by correctional and medical staff. While these methods are standard practice, they present inherent limitations-particularly during overnight hours, during periods of high inmate-to-staff ratios, or when an inmate is non-verbal, unresponsive, or unwilling to self-report symptoms. These limitations have, in some cases, resulted in delayed medical response, hospitalizations, and increased strain on emergency services.
To address these gaps and modernize inmate supervision, the Sheriff’s Office proposes the implementation of advanced wearable biometric health monitoring technology. This system would utilize secure, tamper-resistant ankle-worn devices capable of continuously tracking vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and core body temperature. The technology can automatically alert correctional and medical staff to early warning signs of medical emergencies, including cardiac events, respiratory distress, or significant changes in body temperature, allowing for faster and more targeted interventions.
By integrating real-time biometric monitoring into existing operational protocols, the Sheriff’s Office aims to:
-Enhance inmate safety by enabling rapid identification and response to medical distress.
-Reduce preventable hospitalizations and associated costs.
-Improve compliance with State and Federal standards for inmate health and welfare.
-Support staff efficiency by supplementing wellness checks with automated, continuous monitoring.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting Board approval to purchase and implement this technology at both County Jail facilities in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. The adoption of this system represents a proactive step toward improving inmate health outcomes, enhancing operational safety, and ensuring that the County continues to meet its duty of care obligations in a modern and effective manner.
The initial cost includes approximately $108,000 plus any applicable taxes in one-time costs associated with the device purchase, configuration, testing, and training. The ongoing annual costs for JMS integration, ultra long-range wireless services, licenses, and cloud services is $213,750.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not to approve this agreement hindering the Sheriff's Office to a valuable tool that could most importantly preserve life but also limit liability to the County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement and the use of funding to implement this program.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
These costs will be paid by the Inmate Trust Fund. There will be no impact to Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Please return fully executed Agreement to the Sheriff’s Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz