Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/185868
Sarasota News Leader October 4, 2013 Page 41 suffered two "major component failures" since November 2012. The memo added, "Each time we have a failure and have to restart [the master site controller], we run the risk of it not restarting. That would be a catastrophic failure and potentially lead to a communications blackout throughout Sarasota County." During the joint County Commission/ Longboat Town Commission meeting, Tobias explained that the key goal with the new radio system is interoperability. The 800MHz system cannot communicate with the Manatee County system, he pointed out, "without a lot of whistles and bells and handshakes and wizardry and things like that …" Charlotte County staff also is working with his staff and Manatee County representatives, he continued, with the hope that its new emergency communications system will be compatible with those in Sarasota and Manatee counties. DeSoto County leaders are interested in participating in the process as well, Tobias added. "We're looking at being able to expand this [new system] as we need to, to incorporate other counties as well," he said. "Our goal is to have regional blanket coverage with a unified system." BID DETAILS Sarasota County Fire Chief Mike Tobias (center) addresses the Sarasota and Manatee county commissions in April as County Administrator Randall Reid (left) listens. File photo in communications … [among] local, state and federal agencies when protecting the public's welfare," according to the website www.p25.com. The organization working on P25 standards comprises the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors (NASTD) and the federal government, the website says. Firms responding to the Sarasota County RFP had to provide a minimum of five references from public sector agencies (federal, state or local) for which they had acted as the primary consultant for a P25 system within the past eight years. The RFP for the Sarasota County consultant required that it be able to demonstrate "experience providing professional public safety … Project-25 radio consulting services and be an independent third party consulting firm that is All respondents also had to provide answers not affiliated with any communications equipto 21 questions regarding details of their ment manufacturer, distributor, or supplier." experience relative to a wide array of techni"Project 25 is a public communications stan- cal matters, as well as with issues such as site dard dedicated to ensuring interoperability development and room design. %