City of San Antonio Selects Harris Above Motorola Solutions for a $106 Mio P25 Radio Network Deal
The decision to choose Harris was made despite test results that showed the competitor’s handheld radios stood up better to adverse environments in which firefighters often work.
The San Antonio City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to re-hire a longtime contractor to build a next-generation regional public-safety radio system, despite test results that showed the competitor’s handheld radios stood up better to adverse environments in which firefighters often work.
Harris partner Dailey-Wells, that builds and maintains Harris Corp. two-way radio networks, received a 15-year, $106 million contract after nearly three hours of discussion that included impassioned pleas from employees and the president of Central Electric Enterprises & Co., and their partner, Motorola Solutions, who said they offer a superior product and would provide the products and services the city requires.
The new system, which is expected to be operational in 2021, will cost $80.7 million to construct with an additional $27.3 million that will be paid out for maintenance and operations over the 15-year life of the contract.
It includes a carve-out for the city to buy non-Harris radios for the San Antonio Fire Department because a large majority of firefighters indicated that they prefer Motorola portable radios, which they’ve said are more ergonomic and work better under hot and wet conditions.
Picture: Courtesey of SCOTT BALL / RIVARD REPORT
