New MoCo System?

[badlans]

Does anyone out there in TVLand know where I can get more information on the upgrade for the Montgomery County Public Safety Radio System? I've heard that they are in the midst of an upgrade, and I wanted to learn more about it. I did some Googling around, but I've not found anything very interesting. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[troymail]

Found what looks like the RFP for bids that closed more than a year ago:

http://10ba4283a7fbcc3461c6-31fb518...3b7672d30b9209c455696339c57359a.pdf?id=285812

but this suggests that they are still working the details (at least as of April 2015):

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/cm/2015/150420/20150420_GO10.pdf

It will certainly be a P25 Phase 2 "capable" system but given other jurisdictions phase in of P25, who knows if it will start out as Phase 1 or Phase 2 (probably Phase 1 at least partially and Phase 2 over time).

Either way, I don't think this is happening anytime soon.... i.e. probably at least a year (likely more)...

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

Here was a short update of information from June. Looks like it will take 2.5-3 years.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...zdGF0ZXBzdGZvcnVtc3xneDo0MjIwMWE5Njc0YTI3NDBh

 

[troymail]

Here was a short update of information from June. Looks like it will take 2.5-3 years.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...zdGF0ZXBzdGZvcnVtc3xneDo0MjIwMWE5Njc0YTI3NDBh

Yeah - that's what the April document said to "in midst of negotiations"... strange a full year after the RFP closed.

Anne Arundel is in about the same place and expected to take several years to implement.. I think here they are still in the process of gathering information...

 

[badlans]

Found what looks like the RFP for bids that closed more than a year ago:

http://10ba4283a7fbcc3461c6-31fb518...3b7672d30b9209c455696339c57359a.pdf?id=285812

but this suggests that they are still working the details (at least as of April 2015):

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/cm/2015/150420/20150420_GO10.pdf

It will certainly be a P25 Phase 2 "capable" system but given other jurisdictions phase in of P25, who knows if it will start out as Phase 1 or Phase 2 (probably Phase 1 at least partially and Phase 2 over time).

Either way, I don't think this is happening anytime soon.... i.e. probably at least a year (likely more)...

I enjoyed looking at the RFP. Thanks! However, I've never seen, nor tried to respond to a 368-page RFP before. It's not terribly surprising that they are still in negotiations. I can imagine that there are some interesting discussions between Montgomery County's lawyers and Motorola's (or whomever's) lawyers, especially for a contract so large and complex.

It should be interesting to watch this role out. In the meantime, I don't think my Pro-18 (Phase 1 only) scanner will be obsolete anytime soon, at least on the MoCo system.

Thanks again!

 

[K4EET]

Anne Arundel is in about the same place and expected to take several years to implement.. I think here they are still in the process of gathering information...

While I've been retired from the AACo Police for over 10 years now, AFAIK AACo should be pretty much finished with the new APCO Project 25 system. When I was there, we were rolling out new XTS5000 portables and installing the base station sites. I'll be honest that after retirement, I did not stay in touch with the Command Staff as to the month to month and year to year progress, so I can only give a SWAG that the dust should be pretty much settled by now...

73 (best wishes), Dave K4EET

 

[troymail]

While I've been retired from the AACo Police for over 10 years now, AFAIK AACo should be pretty much finished with the new APCO Project 25 system. When I was there, we were rolling out new XTS5000 portables and installing the base station sites. I'll be honest that after retirement, I did not stay in touch with the Command Staff as to the month to month and year to year progress, so I can only give a SWAG that the dust should be pretty much settled by now...

73 (best wishes), Dave K4EET

We're drifting off topic a bit (probably my fault) but Anne Arundel upgraded radios to do the full switch to digital (P25 voice, Motorola SmartZone system) many, many years ago. Police went digital - fire and county services did not. Police probably went to achieve more security - in fact, they did encrypt the AUX and other senstive talkgroups; fire didn't switch due to the poor coverage of the system in the county - both in and out of buildings - for safety reasons). In fact, I just heard Lothian fire units ask fire alarm to "enable the Waysons patch". This patch enables AA Fire units to hit and use a PG tower in Upper Marlboro due to the poor coverage in that area. Police have this same patch but it's enabled full time for Southern district.

The system I mentioned that Anne Arundel is planning for now is the switch from the current Motorola system to a full P25 system... several years out.