HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 1d: Purchase of eight (8) P25-compliant UHF portable radiosSTAFF REPORT
Fire Department
DATE: January 3, 2012
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tony L. Trabbie, Fire Chief . ,
By: Kurt Norwood, Deputy Fire Chien"
SUBJECT: PURCHASE OF EIGHT (8) P25- COMPLIANT UHF PORTABLE RADIOS
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $37,000.00
Recommended Action: Approve
SUMMARY
Staff is recommending the City Council authorize a purchase of eight (8) P25- compliant
UHF portable radios in an amount not to exceed $37,000. Funds were approved for this
acquisition as part of the Fiscal Year 2011 -2012 budget. In addition, the City will be
reimbursed for up to $34,000 from this purchase through the 2008 State Homeland
Security Grant Program (SHSGP).
BACKGROUND
Since the terrorist attacks of 9 -11, Los Angeles County fire and law enforcement
agencies have been proactive in attaining excellent county -wide emergency scene
communications between all fire and law enforcement agencies.
Unfortunately, eight (8) of the Arcadia Fire Department's current UHF portable radios
utilized by firefighters are unable to meet P25 standards. These eight (8) models of
portable radios are no longer manufactured and spare parts are next to nonexistent.
DISCUSSION
P25 is a set of standards for digital radio communications that allows governmental
public safety agencies to communicate with other agencies and mutual aid response
teams in emergencies. Federal mandates, the Interagency Communications
Interoperability System (ICIS), and Verdugo Fire Communications are moving towards
P25 - compliant repeater sites and radios. It is estimated by January 2014 that all mobile
and portable UHF radios that are not P25 - compliant, or those that do not have the
capability to be P25 - compliant in Los Angeles County, will become obsolete.
Mayor and City Council
January 3, 2012
Page 2 of 2
Currently, the Arcadia Fire Department deploys ninety -nine (99) UHF radios that can
comply with P25 requirements with the appropriate software upgrade. The Fire
Department is anticipating that these radios will receive the software upgrade, financed
through a SHSGP grant submitted by Verdugo Fire Communications, by April 1, 2013.
However, there are eight (8) portable radios that Arcadia Firefighters use daily that are
not P25 - compatible nor can they be upgraded to meet P25 standards. With an
increasing number of public safety agencies in the local region currently utilizing P25-
compliant repeater sites and radios, it is likely that these eight (8) Arcadia radios will
become obsolete and inoperable before 2014.
In addition, the eight (8) proposed P25 - compliant radios will be able to utilize the new
P25 - compliant repeater site that has been recently installed in the northeast end of
Pasadena. The ability to utilize this repeater site will greatly enhance firefighter
communications in the north end of Arcadia, resulting in more efficient and safer fire
ground and medical operations.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the proposed purchase is estimated not to exceed $37,000. Sufficient
funds have been budgeted and approved in the Fiscal Year 2011 -2012 Equipment
Replacement Fund for this acquisition.
Additionally, on December 12, 2011, the Arcadia Fire Department was notified that it
was awarded $34,000 in grant funds towards this project through a State grant program
for which staff had previously applied. As a result, once staff completes the said
acquisition utilizing City- appropriated funds not to exceed $37,000, the State will
reimburse the City up to $34,000 through the 2008 SHSGP.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council authorize a purchase of eight (8) P25-
compliant UHF portable radios and related equipment in an amount not to exceed
$37,000.00.
Approved: -.
TLT:kn:yy
Donald Penman, City Manager