County approves sole-source procurement notice for sheriff’s body and in-car camera platform

Morrow County finance staff recommended a sole-source procurement for a single-vendor body- and vehicle-mounted camera and evidence-management platform for the sheriff's office, and the board authorized posting a public notice to start the protest period.

Kevin, the county finance director, said the county’s current contract for body cameras expires at the end of the fiscal year and that staff negotiated more favorable terms by pursuing a direct agreement with the vendor rather than a cooperative purchasing agreement. He said the recommended vendor is Utility Associates, Inc., and staff believe the vendor’s integrated platform and proprietary features are uniquely available from that firm.

Brian and other presenters described system capabilities that go beyond the county’s existing equipment: in-car cameras for patrol vehicles, remote download via vehicle Wi‑Fi (reducing time spent docking body cameras at the station), GPS tracking and integrated evidence reporting. Brian said, “for less we’re going, we’re getting twice as much equipment,” and noted the vendor will provide installation and training and supply two spare body cameras for rotation.

Legal counsel and procurement staff explained the procurement statute allows a sole-source award when goods or services are available only from one vendor. The county directed staff to post a public notice of the sole-source determination and begin the mandatory protest period; staff said the notice will allow seven days for protests and that, absent a protest, the county will execute the contract. A commissioner noted a small typo in the vendor letter that staff will correct before posting.

A brief exchange clarified data storage: a speaker asked where video is stored and the reply in the record was “iCloud.” The board voted to authorize staff to post the sole-source notice and begin the protest period.

No contract execution was recorded during the meeting; procurement steps and the protest period remain pending.