MACC approves radio system

MOSES LAKE - The Multi Agency Communications Center (MACC) board approved a $7.9 million bid for a new radio systems.

Tait North America submitted the winning bid to provide the center with a narrowband analog system and a digital system, as well as radios for all of the emergency vehicles in the county.

The radio systems are being paid for with a $9 million bond approved by the Grant County commissioners earlier this year. The county borrowed the money partially to meet a Jan. 1, 2013, federal deadline to convert MACC's radio system to a "narrowband" analog.

The switch to "narrowband" would shrink the amount of space the radio waves take up. The remainder of the money will be used to switch the county to a digital radio system.

The MACC board decided to switch Grant County's radio system from analog to digital in November 2009 with a majority of members approving it. The center originally planned to make the switch in three phases, but Tait's bid allows them to do it all at once.

"The bids came in so we could do the entire county," MACC Board Chair Darin Smith said. "We can start and do it all at once and purchase updated radios for the agencies ... We were pretty happy with the price. It came down to two companies Motorola and Tait. We were getting more for less money with Tait."

Radio Communications Manager Dean Hane stated Tait's bid was one of three, ranging up to $10 million for the entire project. All of the bids included the same systems.

"My estimate to start is near the end of the month," Hane stated. "We still need to get several pieces of paperwork in place before any work may commence."

Hane said in a previous meeting the digital system gives the center and departments more options, including more possible channels and less competing traffic. It also provides the option to encrypt the signal, preventing people listening to scanners to hear the communication.

"We have not finalized the project schedule with the vendor since we just made an award," Hane stated. "Although I expect the project to be completed by the end of the year."