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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 17, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5-~_ <br />SUBJECT: Approve Grant Purchase of Radio Communications Equipment for Emergency <br />Responders <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Portable Radio Allocation Chart <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Jack Ball, ext 3030 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To authorize purchase of one hundred and forty-seven (147) Motorola XTS 2500 <br />Tier II 800 MHz portable radios for emergency response agencies within the county, with a cost <br />not to exceed $471,000, utilizing Homeland Security grant funding. <br />BACKGROUND: The U.S, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded the State of <br />North Carolina funding for equipment and training exercises through the FY2003 and FY2004 <br />State Homeland Security Grant Program, The program is designed to improve domestic <br />terrorism preparedness through the purchase of equipment for first responders, including law <br />enforcement agencies, municipal and volunteer fire departments, emergency management, <br />emergency medical services, fire marshal, and public health. Funding is allocated on a DHS <br />formula of 80% far local government and 20% for state use, Orange County's share of these <br />funds totaled $600,776, The BOCC approved the grant agreement covering these funds at <br />their meeting on February 3, 2004 for the FY2003 grant and November 16, 2004 for FY2004. <br />Orange County Emergency Management staff conducted meetings to determine a countywide <br />need to which the grant allocation could be applied. Participants in the meetings included <br />representatives of Chapel Hill fire and police, Carrboro fire and police, UNC and Hospital Police, <br />Orange Cotanty Sheriff and Hillsborough Police. Input was also received from the Orange <br />County Health Department. All parties agreed that interoperable communications is of <br />paramount concern by the conclusion of these meetings on October 13, 2004. The results of a <br />BOCC-authorized study completed by CTA Communications, Inc. found that a radio solution <br />utilizing an 800 MHz radio system would be the ideal platform far the County. <br />Subsequent to the completion of that study, a partnership opportunity with the State of North <br />Carolina using the State Highway Patrol's VIPER (Voice Interoperability Project for Emergency <br />Responders) system arose, The County entered into agreements which will substantially <br />