Dane County goes with Harris. Story from madison.com
From madison.com :
The company chosen by Dane County to create a new radio system for its 911 communication center was criticized by Milwaukee officials last fall when a similar system there was shut down for more than half an hour without advance warning to police.
But Dane County officials say the system to be developed by Harris Corp. will be different than the OpenSky emergency communications system in Milwaukee, and they’re confident in its technical capabilities.
The new radio system will allow emergency responders from multiple local governments to communicate with one another.
Harris was the “clear winner,” underbidding Motorola and two other companies to win the contract, Acting Dane County Executive Scott McDonell said Wednesday, adding that Harris also scored well on technical performance.
The proposal from Harris, based in Melbourne, Fla., came in “a few million under” the $18 million the county had approved to create the system, said county spokesman Josh Wescott.
Combined annual operation and maintenance costs not to exceed $825,000 are to be shared by participating municipalities, with the county providing $225,000 a year.
Harris drew criticism for problems with its OpenSky emergency communications system in Milwaukee, where Police Chief Edward Flynn blamed the company in October for performing a maintenance check that shut down the system for more than half an hour without letting police know in advance.
McDonell and Wescott said the OpenSky system — which is different from the system to be developed for Dane County — was created by another company that was purchased by Harris.
Wescott said the process used to evaluate proposals was based 75 percent on technical capability and 25 percent on costs.
He and McDonell said evaluators received positive feedback from other communities with Harris systems, including Miami and Dade County, Fla., and York, Pa.
John Dejung, director of Dane County’s 911 center, said he does not anticipate problems similar to those experienced in Milwaukee, such as a lack of reception in some areas, with the system that will be built here.
Wescott said General Communications in Fitchburg will provide maintenance and support for the new system.
Tait, a New Zealand company, and PlantCML owned by EADS of California also submitted proposals to develop the system.
The county must upgrade its system by the end of 2012 to avoid federal fines of up to $10,000 per day.
From madison.com :
The company chosen by Dane County to create a new radio system for its 911 communication center was criticized by Milwaukee officials last fall when a similar system there was shut down for more than half an hour without advance warning to police.
But Dane County officials say the system to be developed by Harris Corp. will be different than the OpenSky emergency communications system in Milwaukee, and they’re confident in its technical capabilities.
The new radio system will allow emergency responders from multiple local governments to communicate with one another.
Harris was the “clear winner,” underbidding Motorola and two other companies to win the contract, Acting Dane County Executive Scott McDonell said Wednesday, adding that Harris also scored well on technical performance.
The proposal from Harris, based in Melbourne, Fla., came in “a few million under” the $18 million the county had approved to create the system, said county spokesman Josh Wescott.
Combined annual operation and maintenance costs not to exceed $825,000 are to be shared by participating municipalities, with the county providing $225,000 a year.
Harris drew criticism for problems with its OpenSky emergency communications system in Milwaukee, where Police Chief Edward Flynn blamed the company in October for performing a maintenance check that shut down the system for more than half an hour without letting police know in advance.
McDonell and Wescott said the OpenSky system — which is different from the system to be developed for Dane County — was created by another company that was purchased by Harris.
Wescott said the process used to evaluate proposals was based 75 percent on technical capability and 25 percent on costs.
He and McDonell said evaluators received positive feedback from other communities with Harris systems, including Miami and Dade County, Fla., and York, Pa.
John Dejung, director of Dane County’s 911 center, said he does not anticipate problems similar to those experienced in Milwaukee, such as a lack of reception in some areas, with the system that will be built here.
Wescott said General Communications in Fitchburg will provide maintenance and support for the new system.
Tait, a New Zealand company, and PlantCML owned by EADS of California also submitted proposals to develop the system.
The county must upgrade its system by the end of 2012 to avoid federal fines of up to $10,000 per day.
