Public Safety Mesh Networking Radio Equipment

The City of Galax, Virginia is seeking proposals for a comprehensive public safety mesh networking radio equipment procurement under RFP 25-0011. The project requires the supply, installation, and maintenance of a robust communications solution for public safety personnel, including first responders, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and other officials. The procurement includes 10 repeaters/nodes, 3 deployable kits, and 120 individual radio units with specific technical requirements such as IP68 rating, MIL-STD-810 compliance, and support for public safety frequency bands. Equipment must provide real-time GPS, data communications, low latency, end-to-end encryption, and secure authentication capabilities. The system is designed to operate across 1000 square miles of mountainous territory with 24 tower sites, requiring both AC/DC power options and fixed/mobile installation flexibility. Proposals are due February 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM, with vendor questions accepted until February 13, 2025. Evaluation criteria will focus on technical merit, cost, firm experience, support/maintenance capabilities, and compliance with detailed technical specifications.

The City encourages participation from minority-owned, women-owned, small businesses, and service-disabled veteran businesses, though no specific set-aside percentages are mentioned. Required insurance includes $2,000,000 in Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability coverage. The procurement includes a cooperative procurement clause allowing other public bodies to utilize the resulting contract. The system will be an independent network from the current Public Safety Communications infrastructure, with optional integration to the existing CAD system from Southern Software. Two days of onsite "train the trainer" format training is required, and vendors must provide all necessary hardware and software for a complete solution. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the procurement—including hardware, software, training, and potential system integration—suggests a significant investment in modernizing public safety communications infrastructure. The city's in-house RF engineer will handle final deployment and network design following equipment selection.