1. Tusa Consulting Services Presentation to The City of West Palm Beach City Commission

2. Tusa Consulting Services Public Safety Communications Analysis and Report Purpose: To provide a review of options for the City of West Palm Beach in consideration of the modernization of its public safety radio system.

3. Presentation Roadmap Definitions Harris Project-25 Proposal
Motorola Unsolicited Proposal
Palm Beach County Radio System Access
Competitive Procurement/ RFP
Rank of Alternatives
Questions

4. Definitions
Project-25 (P-25) - A standard for the design and manufacture of digital two-way radios intended to allow for the competitive procurement of radio equipment.
Competitive Procurement - The contractual acquisition of any kind of asset with appropriated funds, that enables all sources to compete in a fair and open environment. For example, an RFP will ensure the highest level of openness, maximizing the suitability of the requested assets or service, and the best return on investment (ROI).
Sole Source - A "Sole Source" purchase means that only one supplier, to the best of the requester's knowledge and belief is capable of delivering the required product or service. Similar types of goods and services may exist, but only one supplier, for reasons of expertise or compatibility with existing equipment is the only source that is acceptable to meet a specific need.

5. Current City Radio System Status
Motorola SmartNet II, Proprietary-Analog
Built in 1986 (26 years ago)
Passed End-of-Life date (12/2001)
Passed End-of-Support date (6/2009)

6. Current City Radio System Status
Sixteen 800MHz Channels Owned by the City
Ten in use by WPB
Six in use by the MPSCC
Mobile and Portable Radios
256 P-25 capable portable radios
53 P-25 capable mobile radios
791 mobiles and portables that are NOT P-25 compatible

7. Harris OpenSky
Initially designed by M/A-COM for non-public safety applications, but later enhanced/marketed to some public safety agencies
Proprietary radio system, not an open-standard such as Project-25. Equipment available only from Harris
4-slot technology provides more channel efficiency, but requires ~6db higher signal level margins for coverage equivalency to P-25 and other technologies
Inferior in-building performance when compared to Project-16 (analog) or Project-25 simulcast technology

8. Harris-MPSCC Proposal
P-25 addition to MPSCC OpenSky System
Upgrades to reliable/proven simulcast technology
Configuration
Enhanced coverage reliability - four tower sites
Two simulcast transmit/receive sites and two receive-only sites
Shares existing MPSCC OS Network Switch/Controller
Requires additional radios to include all users

9. Harris-MPSCC Proposal
Pros
Provides an open-standards P-25 radio system
Increases operational 800MHz channels from 8 to 10
Alleviates EOL and EOS issues for current system
Allow for reuse of 309 Harris and Motorola radios
Cons
Significant resource sharing and operational coordination with the MPSCC
Proposes additional maintenance costs in addition to the current Open Sky maintenance costs
Decreases interoperability between City and County
Extensive burden of site development placed on City

10. Motorola Proposal Unsolicited Proposal
Includes three options for modernization
Option 1 – SmartX Migration – pathway to P-25
Option 2 – Full upgrade to P-25 w/ PBC owned Astro25 Switch
Option 3 – Full upgrade to P-25 w/ WPB owned Astro25 Switch
No pricing provided for mobile or portable radios
No pricing provided for system maintenance

11. Motorola Proposal Pros Cons
Provides an open-standards P-25 radio system
Increase operational 800MHz channels from 8 to 10
Resolves EOL and EOS issues for current analog system
Allow for reuse of 309 Harris and Motorola radios
Cons
Procurement law precludes going forward with any option offered in Motorola proposal
No guaranteed coverage provided. Places City at serious risk with no accountability of system for Motorola
No coverage testing or system performance verification
Extensive burden of site development placed on City

12. Palm Beach County System
Hub Access Agency
City interconnects to PBC switch – Retains existing City System
Pros
Phased migration pathway to P-25 due to shared City/County P-25 switch (P-25 would not be available until a later phase)
All currently owned mobile and portable radios remain operational
City would maintain control of radio management and operation (except for the PBC owned switch)
Continued level of interoperable communications with County
Cons
Locks City into a sole-source procurement when the move to acquire P-25 equipment for each site is eventually made
Requires current SmartNet system to remain operational until P-25
City would be required to upgrade software in step with County

13. Palm Beach County System
Direct Access Agency
City would be full user of County system – abandon existing system
Pros
Eliminates need of existing system replacement/ maintenance
County would offer discount for use of WPB 800MHz frequencies
Maintains current City/ County interoperability
Existing WPB mobile/ portable radios remain operational
Cons
Until County upgrades to full P-25, then 791 radios replaced
Radio resource management transitions away from City
County has no set timeframe to improve RF infrastructure to P-25
Configuration may lack appropriate WPB building coverage
No direct interoperability to MPSCC

14. General Concerns
The Harris and Motorola submittals we have reviewed are typical of unsolicited proposals:
Proposed coverage performance is based on perceived need… not on the documented input from the full user community. High risk user expectations will not be met.
Designed for “Blue Sky” performance. Little to no attention given to M/W, standby power systems or hardening.

15. General Concerns
The Harris and Motorola submittal we have reviewed contain deficiencies typical of unsolicited proposals:
A lack of performance safeguards and accountability that ensure the products supplied are reliable and provided in a timely manner, with workmanship geared to the highest standards. This places the first responders on the street at risk.
The transfer of risk away from the vendor and onto the owner. This sets the stage for change orders, cost escalation, and finger pointing.

16. Competitive RFP Process
Today’s public safety radio networks are more typically purchased via a competitive procurement process.
Project-25’s open standards coupled with the large number of qualified vendors now in the market, as compared to ten years ago, have driven the move to open competition.
Competitive RFPs always secure the best set of services, reliability and features for the lowest cost.

17. RFP-Driven Process Steps taken in a typical Network Modernization
Planning/ Needs Assessment
Interviews with users and managers
Conceptual system design alternatives
Cost estimate development
Procurement Phase
RFP specification development
Acceptance Test Plan development
Evaluation of vendor proposals
Contract negotiation Support
Implementation Phase
Owner technical support and supervision of contractor progress
Alignment and acceptance test verification

18. Rank of Alternatives
#1 Competitive/ RFP – Safest alternative to obtain the best, most advantageous P-25 radio system for the lowest cost.
#2 Harris Proposal – Potential, but only with substantial changes/enhancements through aggressive negotiation.
#3 County System – Potential, but requires sole source acquisition for either level of access. Risk mitigation req’d.
-- Motorola Proposal – Not an option due to sole source (unjustified) requirements. But, this proposal strongly suggests a potential price decrease via RFP is likely.

19. Questions?

20. Thank You! Tusa Consulting Services
Todd Mechler Tallahassee, Florida (850)
Nick Tusa Covington, Louisiana (985)
Carl Rader
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
(954)