13-D CAD System at Police Department
BOB HUNDLEY
Assistant Chief
To: Earnest Clark, City Manager
From: Karl Louis, Chief of Police
Subject: Update on Computer Aided Dispatch Project
Date: February 5, 2007
Asst Chief Bob Hundley prepared the attached memo outlining our
current status regarding the purchase and implementation of the new
CAD project. As you will see, we are going to need a little more time.
There are still a few unanswered questions which need to be addressed
before we make this type of expenditure. We want to make the right
decisions as this is a very important project and I believe you will agree
after reviewing the information.
We had hoped to have all of these questions answered and be prepared
to go forward this month. However, this is not going to be practical. If
you have any questions regarding the project feel free to contact either
of us. Thanks for your consideration of our situation.
MelDorandulD
TO:
Karl Louis, Chief of Police
FROM:
Bob Hundley, Assistant Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
Update on CAD I Records I Mobile Data Project
DATE:
February 5, 2007
We have discussed this but I wanted to put it on paper in case you
need any of the information.
The mobile data portion of the project is problematic in that we want
to make sure that we make the best use of budget at hand. There
are 3 infrastructure systems we can use:
Sprint Wireless Cards - These are broadband cards that allow
Laptops in the emergency vehicles to interface with the CAD I
Records Software via the internet. This system is already in place
and available so this is a good thing. Problems is that it is an
continuing cost, approximately $50 per month per unit or for what we
want to use; about $1500 monthly or $18,000.00 per year. We are
unsure as to the reliability of the network and have minor security
concerns for data and intrusion.
Data Radio or UHF (400Mhz) radio transmission. The cost for this
system has been quoted at $156,000.00. The drawback to this
system is speed. It would be unsure as to how fast the CAD I
Records system could be accessed and as in all radio products, there
would be minor coverage problems.
MDS Radio or UHF (900 Mhz) radio transmission. Again the cost has
been quoted as $136,000.00, and the speed would be sufficient but
we are unsure as to the coverage ability of this system for our local
topology. We have an outside engineer that will be in town on
February 12, to give us his opinion of coverage options.
As you are aware, Computer Information Systems and New World
Systems were the favorites during the demonstrations given by the
9 different vendors that were invited. New World provided us with a
quote of $600,000.00 purchase and $80,000.00 yearly maintenance.
CIS gave us a quote of $367,000.00 and $20,000.00 yearly
maintenance. CIS also has a program that allows a 3 year payout
interest free. After we told New World that we could not afford their
software, they came back in a few weeks and had lowered their quote
to $292,000.000 and $40,000.00 yearly maintenance. This included
an agreement to become a "showplace" for their software for other
customers that were interested in their software that resulted in a
$110,000.00 credit.
Looking at the total picture as it stands right now, we need additional
time to make sure we have covered all aspects of the mobile data
system. No matter what software is eventually purchased, if the
mobile data infrastructure has coverage problems, or fails to get the
data back and forth, we have wasted our efforts.
Just a brief look at a 5 year projected cost:
New World
CIS
$292,000.00
$367,000.00
$40.000.00
$20,000.00
$452,000.00
$447,000.00
$90,000.00
$156,000.00
$136,000.00
Sprint Air Cards $18,000.00
Data Radio $156,000.00
MDS Radio $136,000.00
Just a reminder of the initial cost:
CIS $122,333.33
MD $136,000.00
Fire $36,000.00
HW $100,000.00
plus 2 more payments of $122,333.33
$394,000.00
We had originally been tasked with having a determination by
February when funding would be known to exist due to audit.
It is my opinion that we are still 1 or 2 months out to make sure that
the mobile data infrastructure is complete and has coverage. This
portion of this project is extremely important as no matter what the
software, if we can't communicate between the dispatch center and
the field units, it is useless.
I also want to make sure that we have the understanding that this is a
project that will take time to implement (software configuration, data
migration, and training) and most probably a phased structure, that
would put us going 'live' with most if not all of the aspects of the
project in a 4 to 6 month time frame. This is an industry standard and
not something we dreamed up.
I hope this will answer any questions that may arise.