Marin Emergency Radio Authority Announces Project Update

From MERA:

The Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA) is a 25 member Joint Powers Authority that provides Public Safety Radio Communications across Marin County.

MERA’s Next Gen Request for Proposal sought potential vendors to provide MERA with a 700 MHz Project 25 (P25) Phase 2 compliant trunked radio system to support mission critical communications for public safety within Marin County. That Request for Proposal was sent to 15 potential vendors as well as being publicly posted.

Some of the goals for the Project include:

1. Deploy a P25 Phase 2 standards-based system to enhance coverage, capacity, system resiliency and interoperability.
2. Deploy new IP-based dispatch consoles and gateways designed to support all of the features of the new P25 radio system while retaining any required legacy operational communications capabilities and interoperability.
3. Deploy a new microwave system to support an all-IP backbone and Ethernet traffic in loop configurations to enhance availability and provide the scalability to support P25 voice applications.
4. Deploy new P25 subscriber radios with both Phase 1 and Phase 2 capabilities that can operate in the 700/800 MHz bands to maximize the potential for enhancing interoperability with adjacent counties.
5. Provide and implement an over-the-air Fire Station and Siren Alerting System that provides, at least the same level of features and functionality utilized today at 35 fire stations.
6. Provide and implement an over-the-air Volunteer Fire Voice Paging System that provides, at least the same level of features and functionality utilized today.

Our goal is to have the Next Gen System in operation by the end of 2018. With funding supported by the Measure A Parcel Tax approved by voters in 2014, we estimate the final project cost at approx. $42 M.
Following the Pre-Proposal meeting on 05/16/16, responses to potential vendor questions were developed and disseminated. In addition, six addendums were issued to the original RFP. The RFP and addenda are available on the MERA website (Documents) here.

The closing date for proposals for the MERA Next Gen System was moved to Friday, 08/05/16. One proposal was received from Motorola.

The initial proposal was reviewed by Marin DPW and MERA staff, as well as the MERA Operational Issues Working Group, Next Gen Project Oversight Committee and Federal Engineering in order to develop clarifying questions. Those questions were provided to Motorola and their response was received on Monday, 09/12/12.

For more information go to: www.meraonline.org or www.marincounty911.org
Concurrently, Site Visit teams traveled to the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority and the City of El Paso, Tx to interview staff and examine their current Motorola systems, project development steps and experiences. Members of the Operational Issues Working Group also conducted phone interviews with:

• East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (California)
• Prince George’s County (Maryland)
• Pierce County (Washington)
• Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (Washington)

Additional reference checks were conducted for proposed Motorola subcontractors: Day Wireless and Red Cloud, who will be providing installation and maintenance services.

Having reviewed the initial proposal, responses to the clarifying questions and site visits and reference checks, the Selection Subcommittee of the Next Gen Project Oversight Committee met on Tuesday, 09/13/16 to score the proposal. The Subcommittee, assisted by MERA, Marin DPW and Federal Engineering staff, reviewed all the information available. The Subcommittee recommended that MERA begin negotiations with Motorola. That recommendation was approved by the Next Gen Project Oversight Committee and the Executive Board the following day.

The first negotiation session with Motorola occurred on 09/21/16. This initial meeting focused on coverage; system capacity; microwave paths; fire station alerting; volunteer paging; site development requirements; voice logging; system cutover, maintenance and warranty issues, service upgrade agreement and subscriber equipment.

Once a final contract has been developed, it, along with supporting documents will be posted to the MERA website as part of a future Governing Board agenda. While we hope to finish this promptly, the final quality of the Project and contract are our first priority!

Questions should be referred to MERA Executive Officer Maureen Cassingham or MERA Deputy Executive Officer Dave Jeffries.
Maureen Cassingham: mlc1948@aol.com
Dave Jeffries: mera.djeffries@gmail.com

Image via Pixabay.