the issue I have is side stepping the RFP process. Sure, state law allows a municipality to pay state contract pricing, but this doesn't always mean the best deal. It is the equivalent to paying list or sticker price. No bargaining, no competition.
other vendors such as Harris, Cassidian/EADS and EF Johnson all have similar solutions available at a LOWER cost, but Rockdale did the good ol' boy Gawga way. Meanwhile, Rockdale, like other counties in the metro Atlanta area, are facing a sales tax increase to pay for this system, this all at a time when many families struggle to pay for gas (which will hit $4 a gallon if not higher). Georgia has one of the HIGHEST gas taxes.
No shopping around or competitive bidding took place, so no break on pricing was even discussed. Rockdale just pulled out the old mans' credit card (which happened to be your tax money) to finance it.
the real question is what the per year maintenance cost will be. It's no secret Motorola's one of the HIGHEST in the industry. So in other words, after you raise taxes to pay it off, how much will it continue to cost you with perpetual upgrades, HOST/DSP fixes (which Ma M charges you for, unlike other vendors who include it for free), depot repairs, etc.
Work with other agencies? HA HA HA...ROTFLMAO. I think the term "herding cats" comes to mind. Have fun with that.
Just business as usual in "the dirty south". Nothing to see here...move on.