NY State Officially Terminates M/A-COM Contract

[W2SJW]

NYS Issues Letter of Default to M/A-COM

Updated info (thanks tbendick): http://www.cio.state.ny.us/SWN/Aug_29_default.htm

 

[bezking]

Hallelujah!

 

[AZScanner]

Ha! MA/Com = Owned.

-AZ

 

[chrismol1]

Ha! MA/Com = Owned.

-AZ

had it coming for 'em

 

[K2KOH]

I applaud this not because we're going to get a system that can be monitored by scanner...trust me, we're not. No matter who gets the statewide contract, NYSP will exercise their paranoia and have full encryption...which is their right to do. I'm just happy to see M/A Comm get swatted down for this crappy system.
Besides, the predecessor company, GE, has gotten away with enough in NYS...any old time Albany insider knows exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[sc800]

I'm not sure if the State Police controls the system. Even if they do, can the force a county to use encryption if they don't want to?

Like I said in my post in the general forum, I know of a lot of emergency services personnel who uses scanners on their job, because certain departments will not allow others to input their frequency to their radios. I don't think they would think too highly of 100% encryption.

 

[tbendick]

Not dead yet. 45 more days to go. Check the info on the state website.

http://www.cio.state.ny.us/SWN/Aug_29_default.htm

 

[w2lie]

Not dead yet. 45 more days to go. Check the info on the state website.

I was going to say --- no where on the link did it say that the project was terminated!

In fact, the first question in the Q & A is as follows:
[FONT=&quot]1.[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]Does issuing the Letter of Default to M/A-COM mean we are stopping the contract?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No. It is a formal notice, with an end date, that provides M/A-COM a last chance to fix all outstanding deficiencies. The letter begins a 45-day cure period to resolve the deficiencies. [/FONT]

 

[Spec]

I was going to say --- no where on the link did it say that the project was terminated!

In fact, the first question in the Q & A is as follows:
[FONT=&quot]1.[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]Does issuing the Letter of Default to M/A-COM mean we are stopping the contract?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No. It is a formal notice, with an end date, that provides M/A-COM a last chance to fix all outstanding deficiencies. The letter begins a 45-day cure period to resolve the deficiencies. [/FONT]

+1 Also my thought.

 

[K2KOH]

After seeing this, yes, 45 days...another wonderful policy of NYS... "Just one more time...this fourth time is the very last time...no kidding...no fooling..."
As far as NYSP and this system as well as encryption, oh yes, they had MUCHO input into this. And if the Superintendent of State Police wants encrypted radios, he will get them. Maybe not right away, because of the cost factor, but he WILL get them.

 

[jrm5265]

swn

THANKS for posting that link I needed that, its been printed off and is headed to our Chiefs desk

 

[studgeman]

Don't worry its a 45 day run up to get the lawyers ready! I got my hands on the Fed Engineering report. Didn't have much good to say. This project is DEAD, Done, over! On another note, I did hear a large crash on Friday, must have been Tyco's Stock.

 

[iamhere300]

No big crash. Down 1.5 points, but that is barely a blip.

51 million is just another executive position. To Tyco with a 15 billion market cap, 14 billion revenue,
the analysts are still marking it as a "BUY" stock.

51 million simply means less artwork for the offices, and they may stop the plant service for their lobbies and make the receptionists water the plants.

 

[brey1234]

More On Pulling The Ma/com Plug

With the state facing a huge budget deficit, it can’t spend billions on an iffy project when adequate alternatives exist. Last Friday, the state issued a notice of default that gives the vendor 45 days to recertify that the system is ready. Assuming nothing changes, the state looks to be on the right path toward pulling this plug.
http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/431273.html

 

[Jammin_Jay]

So What happens with NY state now? Any Vendors to step in and take off where MA/Com left?

 

[K2KOH]

Considering the HUGE hole in the state budget, maybe now is the time for Gov. Patterson to think about putting this entire mess on hold. There is no pressing need for a statewide network, not now anyway. As far as someone else stepping up, nothing can happen until after the 45 day cooling off period.

 

[LathamScan]

I believe several state agencies are already making steps towards improving their current communications systems. Steps that were on hold before because of the impending SWN system.

If I had to guess, SWN is probably going to die and more than likely won't be resurrected anytime soon. If the state kills one 2 billion dollar project, could it justify issuing another 2 billion dollar contract? Not right now, I would think.

 

[w2txb]

Ha! MA/Com = Owned.

-AZ

Maybe DISowned would be more fitting...

 

[GTR8000]

They ain't gone yet, and anyone who knows how dysfunctional NYS is should know that until the ink dries, anything is possible.

The saddest part of this whole saga is that a properly designed and functional statewide network would've been a nice thing to have. Sadly, if this contract is indeed terminated as widely speculated it will be, I just don't see the state going through the hassle of re-bidding it anytime soon. Especially given the current economic climate. Then again, I'm sure the NYSP will continue to push for a system, so who knows.

On the bright side, maybe they will be smarter next time around (if there is a next time around), and go with proven, non-proprietary technology, such as P25. The NYSP can still have their encryption with P25, there's no need to go with some over the top system like OpenSky to achieve that (which was one of the biggest reasons they pushed for M/A-COM, by the way, because it was not monitorable).

 

[radionerd13669]

NYS May be screwed up but MA/Com has 45 days thats it,No waiting for ink to drive after 45 days.

The NYSP will always be looking to upgrade their radio system,which needs to be done.P25 would be great for the NYSP