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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-07-2014 - 7aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 7, 2014 Action Agenda Item No. 7 -a SUBJECT: Next Generation 9 -1 -1 Solution DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) I No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Medlin, 919- 245 -6139 Dinah Jeffries, 919 - 245 -6123 PURPOSE: To approve the purchase of the Next Generation 9 -1 -1 Solution to provide a service that is integrated, operated and maintained to the public safety class standards demanded of a life- critical application. BACKGROUND: Since 1992, Orange County has utilized Enhanced 9 -1 -1 (E9 -1 -1) that represented a significant improvement in 9 -1 -1 service by providing the telecommunicator with the name and address of landline callers. Today, the technology has broadened its capabilities to provide a geographic location that identifies the latitude and longitude coordinates for wireless callers. The County is now poised to make another significant technology jump due to consumer expectations and major world events by allowing residents, visitors, and responders to utilize texting, imaging and video capture to 9 -1 -1 as well as providing a faster connection to 9 -1 -1 through digital connections. NextGen 9 -1 -1 (NG911) will use Internet Protocol (IP) based hardware and software to provide call identification, location determination, call routing, and call signaling for emergency calls. NG911 capable public safety answering points (PSAPs) can receive and process incoming calls by means of IP -based networks called Emergency Services IP Networks (ESInets). This network architecture will support many more modes of emergency communication than the voice - centric legacy system currently in use. ESlnets are designed not only to receive traditional 911 voice calls, but also to receive text, data, and video communications from any communications device via IP -based networks. In addition, ESlnets can be configured to receive machine - generated data from telematics applications (e.g., automatic collision notification systems in vehicles provided by vendors like OnStar), medical alert systems, and sensors and alarms of various types. In contrast to the device - specific connection protocols in legacy 9 -1 -1 networks for wire -line, wireless, and interconnected VoIP phones, NG911 will provide IP- enabled devices with multiple means of accessing the NG911 network depending on whether they are operating in a stationary or mobile configuration. In order to achieve this milestone identified in the Emergency Services Workgroup recommendations for continuing to upgrade equipment to move towards the Next Generation initiatives, staff is recommending the selection of Motorola to partner with Intrado to provide the Next Generation Solution for Orange County. On May 8, 2014, the Board of County Commissioners approved the Orange County Emergency Services Strategic Plan that included the need to prepare, develop and implement a solution that goes beyond the current technology to reinforce and integrate with a nationwide vision in providing public safety solutions to the public and responders. The County's current vendor, Qwest (formerly known as CenturyLink), has been unable to provide a proposal and solution to move into this critical phase. For the past several years Qwest (CenturyLink) has experienced a declining level of customer service and response to 9- 1 -1 service related issues, including service outages which many of the 9 -1 -1 Centers across North Carolina have reported to the NC 9 -1 -1 Board. Staff is recommending this switch in vendors to Intrado /Motorola because of Intrado's subject matter expertise in providing 9 -1 -1 solutions as well as the County's long -term and successful relationship with Motorola. UNC Public Safety has recently contarcted with Motorola /Intrado as well. Having the same vendor and network infrastructure will enable the County 9 -1 -1 Center to transfer information to UNC seamlessly, and vice versa. Intrado and Motorola have both been extremely responsive and proactive in identifying issues from other states and providing solutions that will work in North Carolina, specifically in Orange County. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed NG911 Solution is an eligible expense from the North Carolina 9 -1 -1 Board Emergency Telephone Fund (ETF). The ETF is derived from the monthly 911 service charge that is imposed on each active voice communications service connection (land and mobile) that is capable of accessing a 911 system. The North Carolina 9 -1 -1 Board makes a monthly distribution to the primary PSAP (Orange County 9 -1 -1) from the pre- designated amount allocated to the County each year. This expense is covered under the annual ETF allocation and is not borrowed money or a loan. Orange County One Time setup fee: $22,246.00 Orange County Recurring Payment: $25,789.92 Total Customer Sale Price over 60 months: $1,585,654.53 The BOCC will note that the monthly expense for NG911 is substantially more than in previous years. The increase is due to the network(s) required to support text and video to 9 -1 -1, as well as added features and capabilities, such as transferring Automatic Number and Automatic Location Identifiers (ANI /ALI) to another community or county, which increases efficiency and provides better customer service for the 9 -1 -1 caller, and the County's stakeholders. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve this request and authorize the Manager to sign all contracts, agreements, change orders and renewals.