To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: US Digital Designs - Communications Center Alerting
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent on behalf of the Fire Chief, to execute a purchase order with US Digital Designs, in an amount not to exceed $65,000 for a Fire Station Alerting System for the Contra Costa Regional Fire Communications Center, subject to the terms of US Digital Designs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Budgeted. 100% CCCFPD EMS Transport Fund
BACKGROUND:
US Digital Designs’ (USDD) G2 Phoenix Alerting System is a modern fire station alerting system (FSAS) that the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) has already implemented in several fire stations and will begin to transition to for all fire stations in the future.
As part of ongoing remodel and the construction of a new fire communications center, the District will be adding a FSAS to quickly and effectively recall fire dispatchers to the dispatch floor in the event of a large incident or where additional dispatchers are needed due to increased call volume during their normal rest time.
Using USDD’s G2 Phoenix system in the communications center, aligns with the direction the Fire District is going in FSAS for all other fire stations. USDD’s G2 Phoenix Alerting System allows seamless integration and retrofitting with the District’s other FSAS.
In addition, the current computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) is already configured to operate with the G2 Phoenix Alerting System, which helps provide for consistency of use and technical troubleshooting for staff. USDD’s G2 Phoenix Alerting System offers several advantages over other FSAS manufacturers, creating an alerting solution that is effective, reliable, easily programmable, and beneficial for the health of fire staff members. Moving away from the startling and stressful notification processes of the past, the USDD system provides alerting in a graduated tone from low to high volume throughout the notification process. Maintaining interoperability and consistency with fire stations throughout the Fire District, the new Fire Communications Center and other contracted dispatch fire agencies is critical for effective fire dispatch processing and emergency response times.
Lastly, it is important to note that US Digital Designs by Honeywell Standard Terms and Conditions includes Limitations of Liability along with arbitration language.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this recommendation is not approved, the District will need to identify alternate means to recall Fire Dispatchers to the dispatch floor during times of rest and/or during high call volumes in the new communications center.