Title
Approve and authorize the Director of the Emergency Communications Department to sign a National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPA) ValuePoint Participating Addendum from Master Agreement #MA152 with Verizon Wireless to issue purchase orders to Verizon Wireless for a mobile hotspot and public safety Emergency Messaging Gateway for Short Messaging (SMS) Service messaging directly from the systems computer aided dispatch system for an estimated monthly cost of $100 for the mobile hotspot and no cost for the Emergency Messaging Gateway.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Director of the Emergency Communications Department to sign a National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPA) ValuePoint Participating Addendum from Master Agreement #MA152 with Verizon Wireless to issue purchase orders to Verizon Wireless for a mobile hotspot and public safety Emergency Messaging Gateway for Short Messaging (SMS) Service messaging directly from the systems computer aided dispatch system for an estimated monthly cost of $100 for the mobile hotspot and no cost for the Emergency Messaging Gateway.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Emergency Communications Department is a consolidated Public Safety Answering Point for 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls as well as a radio dispatch facility serving 28 law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical response agencies throughout Monterey County.
The Department’s Computer Aided Dispatch system allows dispatchers to send SMS text messages directly to public safety personnel’s cell phones. There are various 3rd party exchanges that can be used as the Emergency Messaging Gateway to distribute these messages. Currently, the Department uses AT&T’s FirstNet as the exchange. FirstNet has been inconsistent with multiple malfunctions so the Department intends to move to the Verizon solution through this NASPA ValuePoint Agr...
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