Comprehensive Guide to Public Safety Communications System Upgrade Planning

1. VERMONT COMMUNICATIONS (VCOMM) http://www.dps.state.vt.us/need/ March 2, 2006

2. Topics • Steps to Functional RFP • Channel Plan • System Inventory • Design Criteria • Dispatch Study

3. Channel Plan • Voice communications • Voice paging • Mobile data • Narrow banding • Frequency pooling • Frequency reuse • Determine needed channel capacity based on 95%/95% • Develop channel plan

4. System Inventory and Coverage • Snapshot of current systems • Base stations (Transmitters and receivers) • Location • Antenna • ERP • Frequencies • Coverage (Propagation Study) • Mobiles • Portables • Pagers

5. Design Criteria • Geographic coverage • Coverage standard (95%/95%?) • Mobile/Portable/Pager • Capacity • Analog/Digital/P25/Narrow-Band • One or two radio solution • System of Systems • Gateways • How to phase

6. Functional RFP Functional RFP System Inventory Channel Plan Design Criteria

7. Macro Dispatch Study • Next Steps • Identification of current and accurate dispatch call volume data for demand projections, staffing plans, and network capacity planning • Analysis of operating expenses and other associated costs in support of financial models of the intended restructured environment for establishing/negotiating “fees for service”

8. Macro Dispatch Study • Next Steps (Continued) • Assessment of people factors for role definition, current capabilities, skills development, or management potential, career path mapping, or training programs – creation of a human resources plan if one does not exist. • Documentation of current practices for standardization and best practices transitions • Preliminary engineering to identify facility or network alteration requirements in addition to deployment of new mobile data and two-way radio capabilities, and enhancing security and survivability of public safety communications services.

9. Dispatch Facilities

10. Dispatch RFP • Develop RFP (Based on Summer Study Committee and Macro Reports) • Define Current System • Current configuration of dispatch • Inventory of equipment at each dispatch facility • Inventory of current staffing at each dispatch facility • Current operating costs at each dispatch facility • Call volume current at each dispatch facility • Time and motion study of selected facilities

11. Dispatch RFP • Define Future Needs • Call volume future 5 and 10 year projection • Security • Diversity of communications links • Redundancy and fault tolerance • Links to other systems

12. Dispatch RFP • Development and evaluate alternatives to meet current and future needs • Integration with two-way radio and data systems • Integration with new E9-1-1 system • Staffing • Estimate costs • Methods to assess costs to users • Analysis of Pros and Cons of Dispatch RFP

13. Dispatch RFP • Develop Recommended Standards and Practices • Standard Operating Procedures • Recommended Training • Assessment of Costs

14. The End QUESTIONS?