NS - Grant - Approve Grant Purchase of Radio Communications Equipment for Emergency Responders

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 17, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. i SUBJECT: Approve Grant Purchase of Radio Communications Equipment for Emergency Responders DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Portable Radio Allocation Chart Jack Ball, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732 -8181 Chapel Hill 968 -4501 Durham 688 -7331 Mebane 336 - 227 -2031 PURPOSE: To authorize purchase of one hundred and forty -seven (147) Motorola XTS 2500 Tier 11 800 MHz portable radios for emergency response agencies within the county, with a cost not to exceed $471,000, utilizing Homeland Security grant funding. BACKGROUND: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded the State of North Carolina funding for equipment and training exercises through the FY2003 and FY2004 State Homeland Security Grant Program. The program is designed to improve domestic terrorism preparedness through the purchase of equipment for first responders, including law enforcement agencies, municipal and volunteer fire departments, emergency management, emergency medical services, fire marshal, and public health. Funding is allocated on a DHS formula of 80% for local government and 20% for state use. Orange County's share of these funds totaled $600,776. The BOCC approved the grant agreement covering these funds at their meeting on February 3, 2004 for the FY2003 grant and November 16, 2004 for FY2004. Orange County Emergency Management staff conducted meetings to determine a countywide need to which the grant allocation could be applied. Participants in the meetings included representatives of Chapel Hill fire and police, Carrboro fire and police, UNC and Hospital Police, Orange County Sheriff and Hillsborough Police. Input was also received from the Orange County Health Department. All parties agreed that interoperable communications is of paramount concern by the conclusion of these meetings on October 13, 2004. The results of a BOCC- authorized study completed by CTA Communications, Inc. found that a radio solution utilizing an 800 MHz radio system would be the ideal platform for the County. Subsequent to the completion of that study, a partnership opportunity with the State of North Carolina using the State Highway Patrol's VIPER (Voice Interoperability Project for Emergency Responders) system arose. The County entered into agreements which will substantially