REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL December 14, 2017 FROM: BRYON HORN, Chief Information Officer Information Services Department SUBJECT ..Title Approve Consultant Services Agreement with CDX Wireless Technology Consulting, Inc. for the next phase of the Radio System Needs Evaluation for public safety wireless systems in an amount not to exceed $94,000. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council authorize the Chief Information Officer to execute a Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno (City) and CDX Wireless Technology Consulting, Inc. (CDX) for the next phase of the Radio System Needs Evaluation for our public safety wireless systems in an amount not to exceed $94,000. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Fresno utilizes two-way radio systems in both public safety, public utilities and transportation and was in need of technical assistance to evaluate the City's aging radio systems and supporting infrastructure. CDX was selected to provide a Radio System Needs Evaluation and that evaluation provided a comprehensive plan with four options to refresh and/or replace current technology and supporting infrastructure. Each of these options is a "phased" approach allowing for budgeting over the next few years. Because of CDX's extensive knowledge and background of the City's systems, they are uniquely qualified to provide a comprehensive plan for the option the City has selected. BACKGROUND On July 1, 2015, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on the City's website and advertised in the Fresno Business Journal seeking proposals from qualified consulting firms to conduct a public safety radio system infrastructure needs assessment and maintenance operations review for the Fresno Fire, Police, Public Utilities and Transportation Departments. On August 4, 2015, the City received proposals from six consulting firms. After a comprehensive review of the proposals and interview of the three firms considered best qualified for this project, staff recommended and selected CDX due to their impressive credentials, experience with public safety communications, excellent demonstration of their understanding of our RFP, and the detail of their plan to complete the assessment and review. On June 6, 2016, CDX delivered a System Evaluation Report for the City's public safety radio system which outlined four options for the City to consider: 1. 700 MHz/P25 Trunked 2. Fire P25 700 MHz/Police P25 UHF System 3. Fire P25 VHF/Police P25 UHF System 4. Expand the Current System After careful consideration, it was determined that option #1, also recommended by CDX, would be the best option for the City in that it would allow all City radio systems to use one frequency, thereby increasing efficiencies. This is a large scale project and the cost for the solution is estimated at $27.9 million. A portion of this project is currently underway as the City is in the process of upgrading its microwave network and radio consoles of which CDX is aware. Since this is such a large project, more work needs to be done to break the project into phases, further refine costs for the project, ensure data sharing ability/interoperability with neighboring agencies, identify grant opportunities and develop a proper implementation plan for the project. Due to the existing relationship with CDX, and their extensive background and knowledge of the City's systems, we believe that they are uniquely qualified and recommend that the City enter into an agreement with CDX. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS The approval of this purchase is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because CDX is uniquely qualified. FISCAL IMPACT Information Services Department's approved FY18 Budget contains funding for this item. Attachments: Consultant Services Agreement Scope of Services Phases 5-9 Uniquely Qualified Memo