November 8, 2011

TO: FROM:

Vendor Community for Radio Communication Equipment Robert Paulson, Jr., C.P.M. Contracts Specialist, Department of Enterprise Services WSP Narrowbanding Radio Project

SUBJECT:

Background: For many years the Washington State Patrol (WSP) has had a limited participation in the Federal Department of Justice (DOJ) Northwest Zone APCO Project 25 Trunked Communications System. Prior to requesting funding to transition its statewide emergency communication system from wideband analog to 12.5 kilohertz narrowband operation in order to meet the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) January 1, 2013 deadline for this transition, WSP contacted the DOJ and discussed the possibility of expanding WSPs participation in DOJs communication system. At that time , due to DOJ restrictions on system sharing with local and non-law enforcement agencies, WSP elected to pursue funding to upgrade its existing conventional analog VHF radio system to P25 operation. WSP requested and received funding from the 2011 Washington Legislature to make the transition to P25 operation to meet the FCC narrowbanding deadline. This funding was to run over two biennia, with infrastructure upgrades in 2011-2013, and mobile and portable radio replacement in 2013-2015. In July WSP contacted the Department of General Administration (now the Department of Enterprise Services), Office of State Procurement to begin the process of developing a competitive solicitation to establish a contract to narrowband and upgrade WSPs statewide emergency communication system. In late September 2011, the Department of Justice notified the WSP that the DOJ would like to further discuss expanded WSP participation in DOJs Northwest Zone APCO Project 25 Trunked Communication System. WSP then conducted an extensive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of expanding its current participation in DOJs communication system rather that to continue on the course of expanding its own radio system using the $33,000,000 funding approved by the 2011 legislature. It was concluded there were indeed substantial benefits to WSP by expanding its participation in DOJs Northwest Zone APCO Project 25 Trunked Communication System. These benefits included: WSP could move to an established VHF P25 Trunked system that would meet its narrowbanding needs with enhanced features. This action would allow for increased interoperability with Federal law enforcement agencies.

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Other state agency law enforcement organizations would be allowed on the system. DOJ would allow WSPs non-federal, non-law enforcement partners that currently use WSPs communication system (such as WSDOT Incident Response Team) on the system. Because of the amount of DOJ system infrastructure already in place, this action would potentially have a positive impact on WSPs narrowbanding project schedule. Because WSP was already a user of the DOJ system, this action would bring additional resources to the system, including spectrum, coverage, and maintenance and repair personnel. WSP would be able to take advantage of the advanced features available on a digital trunked communication system, using allocated funding, by leveraging the infrastructure investments made by the Federal government. WSP would be able to replace all of its fleet of 1200 portable and mobile subscriber units using current biennium funding rather than relying on future uncertain biennium funding to complete the transition.

However, WSP also concluded that the primary negative with expanding its participation in DOJs Northwest Zone APCO Project 25 Trunked Communication System would be that a competitive contracting process could not be utilized because the DOJ system had been standardized on Motorola brand equipment, software and support.

Conclusion: To complete the narrowbanding and upgrading of the WSP communication system and to successfully integrate with the existing DOJ Northwest Zone APCO Project 25 Trunked System it will be necessary for the state to negotiate a sole source contract with Motorola Solutions. This contract will be used to secure the equipment, integration services, and installation services required to transition the WSP statewide emergency communication system from wideband analog operation to the DOJ Northwest Zone APCO Project 25 Trunked System in order to meet the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) January 1, 2013, deadline for narrowband compliance. WSP has briefed the Governors Office, the Office of Financial Management, and legislative committees on the decision to expand its partnership with the DOJ communication system rather than moving forward on their own. The advantages of this change of direction were shared with the appropriate levels of state government, including the requirement to negotiate a contract with Motorola rather than pursue a competitive bid contracting process. Vendors wishing to review this contract between the state and Motorola Solutions may request a copy by filing a public disclosure request once it is fully executed and signed by both parties. Completion of the contract is currently anticipated for the first week of December 2011.