title
PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Department of Permits, Rentals and Concessions
Vendor: SMG Security Holdings LLC, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) to enter into and execute
Good(s) or Service(s): Keyless Entry System for Off Leash Dog Areas
Contract Value: $125,000.00
Contract Period: 7/1/2025 - 6/30/2030
Estimated Fiscal Impact: FY 2025 $40,500.00, FY 2026 $46,000.00, FY 2027 $11,000.00, FY 2028 $11,000.00, FY 2029 $11,000.00, FY 2030 $5,500.00
Accounts: Professional Services 51001.520850
Contract Number(s): #74000016449
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final contract is subject to legal review and approval.
Sole Source contract with no MWBE participation goals.
District(s): 1, 6, 14
Summary: The Forest Preserves is seeking authorization to enter into this proposed contract on a sole source basis for the keyless entry system and associated equipment at the Beck Lake (Des Plaines) and Bremen Grove (Tinley Park) Off Leash Dog Areas. Given the customized nature of the system, the proprietary hardware and software, demonstrated vendor performance, compatibility with existing infrastructure, and long-term cost savings, a sole source agreement with SMG Security Holdings LLC is operationally cost-efficient and beneficial to patrons. SMG’s proprietary system integrates with Genetec software, enabling real-time access management and reporting. A prior installation at Miller Meadow has been successful, with over five hundred (500) registered users.
In 2023, the Permits, Rentals, and Concessions (PRC) Department issued RFP 23-40-009531 for a keyless entry system at Miller Meadow. Requirements included solar-powered operation, user code access, and real-time remote updates. Of two (2) respondents, only SMG Security Holdings LLC met all criteria. PRC now plans to expand the system to Beck Lake (Des Plaines) by October 1, 2025, and Bremen Grove (Tinley Park) by spring 2026. This expansion will support nearly three thousand (3,000) users, enabling real-time monitoring and user management. Estimated costs are $35,000.00 per site, with an $11,000.00 service fee per year based on a $200 service fee per location per month. These estimated monthly costs are higher than the provided quotes to allow the PRC Department to have a monetary contingency for this project. The Department of Permits, Rentals, and Concessions expect that this program will save the Forest Preserves $15,000.00 annually on physical keys.
The agreement terms may include non-standard provisions for the Forest Preserves, particularly with respect to interest for late payment, disclaimers, limitations on liability, warranties, venue, governing law, termination, and indemnification, which may include an obligation to indemnify the vendor to the extent legally enforceable from certain third-party claims related to the vendor’s service obligations under the agreement.
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