RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY - J. GUERTIN

Approve the purchase of a Jail Radio System at the new and existing Jail Facility from Dishnet Direct Inc., dba DAS Systems in the amount of $151,137.50 from the Sheriff's Equipment Impact Fee fund.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 120.5

For normal daily Jail operations, the staff relies on the use of radios to communicate throughout the existing facility.  While the current system works marginally well for this purpose, a new Fire Code provision establishes new requirements for emergency responder radio coverage and the existing system fails to meet this requirement.  Since this is a Fire Code provision, the new facility currently under construction cannot receive its final Certificate of Occupancy without a compliant radio system.  Due to the type of construction (concrete, steel, thick glass), radio signals have a very difficult time going through the building so responders can communicate from the interior to the exterior or for long distances inside the new building.  This requires that a Distributed Antenna System be designed to ensure adequate reception.  If approved, this company will prepare a radio system design for approval by the Fire Marshal and then supply the necessary equipment.  We will then obtain bids from local low-voltage contractors to install the components.  This radio system will be paid for from the Sheriff's Equipment Impact Fee fund balance.

Although initially included in the construction documents, staff felt that a more affordable and efficient system could be provided by an outside vendor.  However, that vendor ended up not being able to assist us.  Staff found DAS Systems to be a qualified local vendor and repeated attempts to obtain proposals from other companies were unsuccessful.

Approve the purchase of a Jail Radio System at the new and existing Jail Facility from Dishnet Direct Inc., dba DAS Systems in the amount of $151,137.50 from the Sheriff's Equipment Impact Fee fund.