Background/Discussion
· Radio communication is a critical part of life-safety and the wide variety of services that we provide to the citizens of Council Bluffs. A system with broken or substandard equipment is a disservice and a potential life-safety threat for our first responders and our citizens. Our system is outdated, radios are reaching the end of their serviceable life and are substandard.
· Our partner agencies in the Orion group (Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington Counties in Nebraska, and the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) are all TDMA and encryption capable. Our Iowa partners (Iowa State Patrol, surrounding county sheriff’s departments, and others in Iowa) that are operating within the Iowa State-wide Interoperable Communications System (ISICS) require users to be TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) compliant to use the system. Our current equipment is not TDMA compliant.
· Chief Justin James, Project Manager, Ms. Kim Riebe, and I, Chief Tim Carmody, have been working in partnership with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department to correct these issues, to define the scope of a portable and mobile radio replacement for the City of Council Bluffs, and to bring the system and equipment to the current accepted standards.
· Each department in the City was asked to review their current hardware and use to confirm the needs of the respective departments.
· In partnership with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, based on the feedback and needs of each department, we are working with Motorola Solutions, Inc. to define the scope and costs for updates to our equipment. We are currently working with the City Attorney, County Attorney, and Motorola representatives to define the details of the agreement.
· Our request includes using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to fortify and enhance the public safety radio system within the City and in Pottawattamie County. Use of these funds for this project will enhance our efforts in the prevention, mitigation, and in response to Covid-19 and future pandemic events. It will also augment our capability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to incidents of gun and other types of violence resulting from the impacts of the pandemic.
· The total cost of the City’s portion of the project is $2,175,001. This includes the known costs and a 5% contingency - $108,750 for a project total of $2,283,751 to be spent by November 19, 2022. Hardware prices were derived from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services’ (DAS) contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc.’s. DAS has verified this contract was solicited in compliance with 2 CFR 200, making it eligible for the use of ARPA funds.