Agenda - 05-02-2017 - 7-b - Countywide Radio Communications Needs Assessment and Alternatives Report

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omNV 4 i Orange County, North Carolina 41 w�I1V"�+��Ir�o '��I�M C. o Air Il i Y Selected Replacement Radio Solution Recommendation Report In this step the four sites constructed will provide >99% mobile and 99% portable on- street radio coverage within the geographic borders of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Step 2 Step 2 includes constructing four VHF sites that will provide radio coverage to most of the County. The volunteer fire departments will use this system for voice communications and paging. A basic premise for the new replacement radio solution was that the 700/800 MHz and VHF sites are at the same locations, leveraging towers, shelters, power equipment, and backhaul microwave. An option for Step 2 would include adding the 700/800 MHz at the VHF sites. The four VHF sites constructed will provide for 99% mobile, and 66% portable on-street radio coverage within the geographic border of Orange County. Step 3 Step 3 consists of constructing the balance of 700/800 MHz P25 sites in the County. The long-term solution estimates that a total of 17 sites will be needed to provide reliable radio coverage to the County. The 17 sites will significantly improve in-building coverage. This step will consist of building out the 13 remaining sites. Following the completion of construction of the 17-site 700/800 MHz replacement radio solution, the system will provide >99% mobile and 96% portable on-street radio coverage within the geographic border of Orange County. We developed a detailed transition/migration plan, included in this report. This plan addresses each agency in each step of the construction. This plan indicates which system the agency will use for primary day-to-day communications, and which agency portables and mobiles will require programming/reprogramming for use of the new systems. Using our in-house cost analysis tool, FE prepared high-level budgetary cost estimates for equipment, installation, user radios, and site improvements for each of the construction steps. These estimates reflect results from previous activities in this project, our knowledge of the County system, our experience designing radio systems comparable to this project, and publicly available industry information. This cost analysis takes advantage of our team's knowledge base and should prove to be invaluable during the development of budgets and the completion of procurement activities with system vendors. Actual system costs are highly dependent on final system design choices as well as conditions in the land mobile radio market during the system procurement phase. Page 2 of 4 April 14, 2017 ;Tv �" eery,.