DEPARTMENT: Information Technology Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: San Antonio Public Safety Radio System
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the status of the replacement project for the San Antonio Public Safety Radio System.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The current Public Safety Radio System, which has been in operation since 2004 and provides public safety grade two-way radio communications for the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and surrounding public agencies, will reach end of life at the end of 2021. The City initiated a procurement process for a replacement radio system in 2015, and following evaluations by both a Project Technical Committee and Executive Evaluation Committee, recommended Dailey & Wells Communications, Inc. for contract award.
City Council approved two ordinances related to the San Antonio Public Safety Radio System on February 15, 2018, which included:
A. Authorized a contract with Dailey & Wells Communications, Inc. for the purchase and commissioning of a Phase II Project 25 (P25) public safety radio system for a planned initial capital value of up to $80,695,423 and ongoing maintenance and support for 15 years following full acceptance for a planned cost of $27,255,136, to be funded by the City of San Antonio, Bexar, County, and CPS Energy.
B. Approved an Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Antonio, CPS Energy and Bexar Country for Ownership and Management of a Public Safety Radio System.
The new public safety radio system will provide the City of San Antonio with a P25 compliant radio system. P25 is a suite of technical standards utilized by public safety and first responders throughout the United States and in over 80 countries worldwide. This system enables interoperability between agencies and jurisdictions regardless of the manufacturer of their radios or radio system. The new public safety radio system will allow for denser coverage throughout the City and greater coverage into more rural areas of Bexar County.
The agreement includes several key contractual terms:
• The purchase of Fire portable radios
• A 42 month implementation schedule, which includes 11 major milestones and on the ground testing with participation from first responders
• Total planned capital expenditures to be shared by the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and CPS Energy based upon the terms of the Interlocal Agreement
• Planned ongoing maintenance and support for 15 years following full acceptance of the system
• Project protections
During the briefing, staff will provide a status update on the project schedule, project delivery, and budget.
ISSUE:
This item is a briefing on the status of the replacement of the San Antonio Public Safety Radio System.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.