Project Management for Joint Radio System to Cost Less Than Expected

Norcross-based Commdex Consulting, a wireless systems integrator, was selected as project manager for the North Fulton Unified Radio System.

“In the budgeting process, we estimated the cost of the project management to be about $350,000,” said Terry Sult, public safety director.

In a Request for Proposals process, the Commdex bid was the lowest at $198,950, Sult said, during the City Council meeting, Tuesday. 

Last year, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton created a partnership for a unified radio system to replace the failing radio system used by police and fire departments. Sandy Springs set aside $2 million for a new radio system in 2011.

Johns Creek opted out of the partnership. The Mayor and City Council believed the other cities had rushed to an agreement based upon the vendor's promise of a discount if a contract was signed in a certain amount of time.

The cities chose Motorola without going through a bidding process, which "should have been more open," said Johns Creek's City Manager John Kachmar, in January.

Commdex has a relationship with Motorola.

Sult said the city initially received three RFP bids, however one company, ACD Telecom dropped out. Kessler Gehman Associates submitted a bid at $220,200.

Sandy Springs will manage monthly billing for the radio system to each city through a fiduciary fund overseen by the finance department.

Ann Marie Quill and Bob Pepalis contributed to this story.