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HomeMy WebLinkAbout22 - 800 MHz Mobile Data ComputersCouncil Agenda December 12, 2000 Item No. 22 To: Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Timothy Riley, Fire Chief Subject: PURCHASE APPROVAL �F 800 MHz MOBILE DATA COMPUTERS FOR FIRE APPARATUS Authorize the expenditure of $210,000 of Capital Improvement Program funds for the purchase of twenty -two Motorola MW520 Mobile Data Computers and software applications through the standing Orange County 800 MHz Motorola Radio Contract (Contract #SOOOD015.95) and the purchase of mapping software and services from GeoSpatial Technologies. BACKGROUND In November 1999, the Mobile Data Communications backbone at Metro Net failed due to age and obsolescence. The 1986 Radio Network Controller (RNC) was based on a 386 - computer chip with a 5 %< inch floppy disk as the storage device. The failure resulted in a loss of redundant dispatch information capability. This has led to increased verbal radio traffic and more opportunities for confusion and error on dispatches. Newport Beach Fire units are outfitted with a 1987 Communications Data Terminal (KDT). There are no replacement parts and the department was stripping reserve units for parts in order to keep KDT's operational on front line apparatus. The Department submitted a 2000 -2001 CIP budget item for their replacement that was approved by Council. The KDT's are critical in providing backup information to station alarms, radio verbal alerts and other background information such as our Fire Medic Programs Medical History Data. The replacement of the Metro Net MDC backbone and infrastructure has been a priority with all the agencies that rely on it. Metro Net has contracted with Motorola to install a new MDC backbone. Installation is in progress and is scheduled to become operational in January, 2001. Our Department has been working for the past five months with the other Metro Net agencies on the details of the MDC backbone plan, mobile computer options, and standardized client software. Our old KDT's are not backward compatible with the new Metro Net backbone. Therefore, we are required to purchase new MDC units, compatible with the new backbone. The Motorola MDC unit is the Department's choice, after a careful review of specifications and functional performance comparison with other vendor's products. The Motorola units were found to be superior in screen brightness, price, touch screen capability, unit size and modularity. The detachable, stand -alone touch screen provides a minimal space intrusion into the apparatus cabs, especially the medic units. The Motorola MDC's are considered the industry standard. The Motorola MDC purchase provides single vendor connectivity from the radio controller through Council Agenda December 12, 2000 Item No. Department a trade -in credit of $32,200 on the old KDT's if we purchase the new MDC's by December 14, 2000. This is based on a corporate trade -in program. Huntington Beach, Anaheim, and Orange City Councils have recently approved the Motorola model for their Fire Departments. Garden Grove, Fullerton and Fountain Valley are working on proposals with Motorola. This provides an added interoperability and standardization feature, regarding maintenance and spare part support. The GeoSpatial Technologies software is the same mapping software currently used by our Police Department. This provides savings to the city in development and maintenance of the mapping database, and compatibility between departments. GeoSpatial Technologies is a Newport Beach -based company. The mapping software converts City GIS drawings and integrates it into their application. For two months, the Department has had a loaner Motorola MDC with GeoSpatial mapping software installed in the Battalion Chief Command Vehicle to allow for pilot testing and verification of day -to -day performance. Those tests have been highly successful. The following are the anticipated costs: Motorola MW520 MDC's w/TX Messaging Software $189,439.00 GeoSpatial Technologies Mapping Software $8,997.00 Estimated Installation and OC Communications Programming Costs $11,500.00 Total $209,936.00 FISCAL IMPACT $210,000 was budgeted in the Fire Department's 2000 -2001 Capital Improvement Program for this project, Fire Department Computer Upgrades (7010- C2310558).