Too late. Looks like its a EDACS ProVoice system from what I've read about the contract winner.
City set to upgrade public safety radio system - Local - Sun Journal
City set to upgrade public safety radio system
Aldermen OK purchase plan for equipment
January 13, 2011 4:34 PM
Francine Sawyer
Sun Journal Staff
New Bern aldermen unanimously approved a system purchase agreement Tuesday for a $4.3-million upgrade to the city’s public safety radio communications system.
The new system purchase — for police, fire and emergency responders, public works, warehouse, parks and recreation, water, customer service and utilities — is not made on a whim.
The federal government requires that all public safety radio systems switch from certain frequencies in the 800-megahertz range by July 2012. Nextel wants those frequencies for commercial use, so the federal government has required the company to switch every public safety entity in the country from those frequencies, a process called rebanding, at its expense.
By rebanding and replacing the current system, the combined effort saves the city money.
The system will use several funding streams, said New Bern Police Chief Frank Palombo. Nextel is supplying $375,489 to the city, $234,604 comes from the city’s 911 balance and $120,048 from CarolinaEast Health Systems.
“The city’s enterprise funds, water resources and electric will provide their share of funding based on their particular needs as well as their portion of the infrastructure and radios they require, $1,917,450,” Palombo said. “The balance of $1,929,710 will come from the general fund.”
The city’s last radio equipment dates back to 1987.
“The city has needed this new system for a long time now,” Palombo said. “The old system is no longer viable for the city’s operations and certainly not for public safety operations.”
The system is expected to last for 20 years.
“The new system will be digital and provide for better and more reliable coverage enhancing the safety of our first responders and our citizens,” Palombo said. “In addition, the new system will provide the radio coverage needed for our utilities crews to accomplish their mission as they service areas outside the city.”
Palombo said he was grateful for the hard work of many city staff members and for the professional guidance and wisdom from consultants, TUSA Consulting Service Inc.
Communications International Inc. met all the requirements for the system and was awarded the contract.
