PUBLIC NOTICE - Approval Alternative Procurement - Public Safety Radio Communications System Project

Marion County, Oregon, in collaboration with the City of Salem, is pursuing an Alternative Procurement method for a Public Safety Radio Communications System Project. The project involves designing and constructing a county-wide P25 Phase II trunked radio system, including data transport and conventional radio overlay systems, with comprehensive supply, provisioning, and installation of system components and subscriber radios. The procurement will utilize a Design-Build Project Delivery method, which involves a competitive proposal process using both price-based and non-price-based selection criteria. A public hearing is scheduled for October 11, 2023, to approve the exemption from standard competitive bidding requirements. Potential respondents must submit questions, register, and submit responses through the OregonBuys Collaboration Portal, with written comments or protests due by October 10, 2023, at 5:00 PM. The primary objective is to maximize competition, reduce project delivery timelines, and shift performance risk to the radio manufacturer.

The project is primarily funded through $11.15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds, which must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and fully expended by December 31, 2026. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types were explicitly mentioned, the procurement appears to be open to qualified radio communication system providers capable of delivering a comprehensive public safety communications infrastructure upgrade. The total project budget is approximately $12 million, with the majority of funding coming from federal sources. No incumbent vendors were identified in the documentation. The project requires integration with existing county and city communication infrastructure, and respondents will need to demonstrate technical capabilities in designing and implementing advanced public safety radio communication systems. Interested parties are encouraged to review detailed project specifications on the Marion County website and prepare comprehensive proposals that address both technical capabilities and cost-effectiveness.