State Board Approves Huge Radio Contract

A Maryland state procurement board has approved a contract with Motorola to build an expansive statewide radio network that could eventually total $485 million and link all the state’s local, county and state public safety agencies. The state has been attempting to fund and build a 700 MHz network for almost 10 years, but is now facing a 2012 deadline for use of assigned frequencies by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). On a 2-1 vote today, the Board of Public Works approved Phase 1 of the project, and only in one region. The board is requiring the state’s information technology department to return to the board for approval of subsequent phases. The project is initially worth $345 million to Motorola over eight years, but could total $485 million over 15 years if future phases are approved. Board member Peter Franchot voted against the contract, saying it wasn’t fully funded and the decision should have been delayed until an award appeal by ARINC Inc. was resolved. The $50 million first phase of the project will involve only the state’s transportation agency, and public safety agencies won’t join the network until later phases are completed. Read the stack of radio system proposal documents here.