Public Safety Radio Communications System Upgrade

Dawson County, Georgia is procuring a public safety radio communications system upgrade to support mission-critical communications, with proposals due April 27, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. EST. An optional pre-proposal conference was held January 11, 2023 at the Amicalola Falls Radio Tower in Dawsonville with required advance notification by January 9. Motorola Solutions was awarded the contract on December 7, 2023, scoring 103 points against Communications International's 97 points across six evaluation criteria: Company Background and Structure, Experience and Qualifications of Dedicated Staff, Project Understanding and Approach to Scope of Work, References, Technical Score, and Cost/Financial Score.

The system shall contain six physical 7/800 MHz RF channels/frequency pairs allowing for 10 TDMA talk paths with new connectivity; no existing TDM circuits or links are being reused. The county's existing Eventide NexLog 740 logging recorder must integrate with the new Network Management System. Equipment shelters may have alternate dimensions beyond the minimum 12 feet by 16 feet exterior and 9 feet interior height if they better fit technical, operational, and fiscal requirements. System backhaul encryption requirements apply at the router or network level rather than the microwave level. A project safety coordinator must have four years of practical construction experience and complete OSHA training, though scaffold training requirements are waived if the contractor's scope does not require scaffolding. Contractors must invoice quarterly in arrears for work completed and accepted.

Bidders were required to assume responsibility for providing temporary backhaul solutions if the new E911/EOC building is not completed by project completion. Proposers could contact the Georgia Region 10 Regional Planning Committee directly regarding frequency coordination and licensing requirements for proposed sites located outside Dawson County. Questions were originally due January 18, 2023, extended by Addendum 1 to February 1, 2023, with answers released February 8, 2023. Addendum 2 provided further technical clarifications on RF specifications, integration requirements, and invoice procedures.