Agenda - 04-20-2004-5e - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 20, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. ~ - E'.- SUBJECT: Emergency Communications Study -Change Order DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management ATTACHMENT(S): Communication Study Phase 2A Change Order PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Snowden, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To request a change order to Phase 2A of the Communications Study allowing additional requested services which impact the Study, BACKGROUND: The County s Communication Systems are based on outdated technology and have been causing increased problems in repair and maintenance, Emergency Management has been adopting changes to keep the systems operational Many of the public safety agencies that rely on the County s communications system are interested in using newer technology in their vehicles, some of which technology is not compatible with the current equipment in the Communication Center. The needed enhancements far the Communication Systems have been addressed with the County Manager during the past two budget cycles, and funding was approved by the County Commissioners in the FY02-03 and FY03-04 budgets for a three-phased emergency communications study being conducted by CTA Communications, Inc, The Phase 1 report included recommendations for short-term solutions to problems as well as identified what long-term thing that could be done to improve the system. The Phase 1 Report was presented on April 2, 2003 to the BOCC, Phase 2A of the study included interviewing representatives of public safety and other response agencies in the County to determine the communication functions and capabilities they see as important in the future, The results of Phase 2A of the report were recently presented to agency representatives, who then requested that CTA look at VIPER (Voice Interoperability for Emergency Responders) as the possible long-term solution. The group feels that VIPER is a better solution that will save millions of dollars upfront, plus give the County statewide interoperability, The VIPER system is a part of the State's 800 MHz backbone. After the group met with State Highway Patrol, CTA, and key stakeholders in the County, County staff asked CTA to propose a change order. CTA will include in the Long Term Report, an analysis of the alternative of contracting with the State of North Carolina to join their Statewide 800 MHz Radio Trunking Network "VIPER" as apposed to the County of Orange