Title
Purchase of Two-Way Digital Radios and Accessories for the Transportation Department (Citywide)
Transportation currently uses the TOPAZ radio network for their wireless communications for staff to communicate daily on work projects in the field and during emergency events. The radios being requested will operate on the existing Mesa Public Schools (MPS) radio system, which moves the use off of the TOPAZ network. Council has approved an IGA with MPS to partner with and expand the use the MPS system to accommodate Mesa non-Public Safety City Departments.
The radios for this network and purchase are approximately 1/6th the cost of the equivalent radios for the TOPAZ radio network. In addition, the MPS network is a commercial-grade system which is anticipated to cost less to maintain than the TOPAZ voice radio network (estimated annual cost savings of $90,000.00 per year for the Transportation Department).
The Transportation and Communications Department, and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the State of Arizona cooperative contract with B&B Selectcom, Inc., at $77,680.00, based on estimated requirements.