TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jon Gjestvang - Chief Information Officer - Information Technology Services
REPORT BY: Elena Guzman - Staff Services Analyst
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 2 to Agreement 170498B with CSI Telecommunications
RECOMMENDATION
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Chief Information Officer requests approval of and authorization for the chair to sign Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 170498B with CSI Telecommunications, Inc., increasing the amount by $10,000 a year to a new maximum of $50,000 per fiscal year for professional services and expenses, in order to provide Public Safety Radio Systems engineering and frequency coordination, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing, and additional support services related to the County’s overall radio infrastructure.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Today’s requested action is for the approval of Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 170498B with CSI Telecommunications, Inc. (CSI), a Bay Area firm that specializes in innovative radio engineering and design solutions. CSI will provide Napa County Communications with Public Safety Radio Systems engineering and frequency coordination, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing, and additional support services related to the County’s overall radio infrastructure.
CSI is not a local vendor.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Information Technology Services |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Approval of this amendment will allow Napa County Communications to continue their work with CSI to continue upgrading and improving the Public Safety Radio System. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Funding for this service will be budgeted each fiscal year of the term of the agreement in the Radio (42000-13) subdivision of ITS and built into the Cost Allocation Plan. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If not approved, the County of Napa will be unable to evaluate the impact of radio systems being introduced throughout the County in private buildings, caves or dwellings that are required for Public Safety coverage. These intricate system designs must be evaluated by FCC approved engineers who are familiar with the internal County Public Safety radio network to prevent any current or future interference. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Public Safety Radio System has been limited in providing complete radio coverage due to the unique terrain of Napa County. In an effort to upgrade the System to simulcast, Napa County Communications has taken a phased approach (potentially four to six phases) by methodically purchasing necessary equipment and system engineering services over the past few fiscal years. Simulcast is the simultaneous broadcast of a voice or data signal from multiple base station towers on the same frequency at the same time; the result is expanded coverage of the radio network.
On June 10, 2014, Communications entered into Agreement No. AUD 6903 with CSI Telecommunications,
Inc. (CSI) to engineer the planned first phase of a simulcast radio system. Phase one consisted of preparing and submitting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forms to license the New Atlas Peak site with expanded coverage limits, enabling the two site Simulcast between Mt. St. Helena and New Atlas Peak.
On April 22, 2015, Communications entered into Agreement No. AUD 7052 with CSI for the second phase of simulcast system design, future radio site identification, FCC licensing, and general radio engineering. Phase two included FCC licensing of a new and additional microwave network backbone (New Atlas Peak to Berryessa Peak transmitters), engineering of a three site Simulcast (Mt. St. Helena, New Atlas Peak, and Berryessa Peak) and FCC licensing of County-wide law enforcement vehicle repeater frequency to be used by the County Sheriff’s Department.
On September 9, 2015, Communications entered into Agreement No. AUD 7122 with CSI for phase three to engineer identified radio sites for eventual upgrade to simulcast design, FCC licensing and general radio engineering. Phase three consisted of the engineering of the Mt. Vaca transmitter site, improving coverage in Gordon Valley, south Lake Berryessa narrows/dam, and the eastern end of Jameson Canyon.
On July 1, 2016, Communications entered into Agreement No. 170498B to continue working with CSI for engineering services and upgrades for the Public Safety Radio Simulcast System, FCC licensing, and general radio engineering. CSI completed and engineered a 7 site VHF simulcast design after designated tower sites were established and equipment was installed by Napa County Communications. Additional work consisted of optimizing radio system audio and coverage provisioning. CSI provided the County with continuous engineering enhancements and consulting as new data was submitted regularly from Napa Communications regarding radio system performance.
On May 19, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved Amendment No. 1 to Agreement 170498B with CSI to extend the term through June 30, 2021, with an automatic renewal at the end of each fiscal year for up to two additional one year terms; and to decrease the annual maximum from $85,000 per fiscal year to $40,000 per fiscal year for professional services and expenses. This allowed CSI to continue to provide Napa County Communications with Public Safety Radio System engineering and frequency coordination, FCC licensing, and support services related to the County’s overall radio infrastructure. Furthermore, this amendment allowed Communications to build off of the previous phased upgrades to the Public Safety Radio System that CSI assisted since 2014.
Today’s requested action is for the Approval of Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 170498B, for a new maximum of $50,000 per fiscal year in order to continue to provide Public Safety Radio Systems engineering and frequency coordination, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing, and additional support services related to the County’s overall radio infrastructure. The increased maximum of $40,000 to $50,000 per fiscal year is due to CSI paying a third party vendor, RadioSoft, the necessary Coordination Fees required by the Federal Communications Commission in order to file the County’s license applications.
CSI is located in Novato, California, and is not a local vendor. However, due to their previous work on the Public Safety Radio simulcast system throughout Napa County, they have extensive knowledge of the County’s radio system. This firm specializes in innovative radio engineering and design solutions; coupled with their knowledge of the County’s radio system, the Communications team will be able to leverage the firm’s
expertise in order to more effectively identify and upgrade potential weaknesses and known bugs within the Public Safety Radio simulcast system.