Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Intrado Life & Safety Solutions for the purchase and maintenance of a portable wireless call taking system that seamlessly connects to the City of Columbus current 911 Viper System.
The outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic has brought many new challenges to the 911 community. Issues such as protection of personnel in a 911 center, involving infection, sustainability of a closed environment over an extended period of time and other challenges have been identified. The ability to have work conducted remotely is a necessity moving forward. Recent public safety developments, including the COVID pandemic and the flooding of a suburban communications center have identified the need for the purchase of a portable or back up system for 911 call taking. The City of Columbus and 911 partners have identified a portable wireless call taking solution that will enhance the city's current system. The solution, Viper Remote 911 Workstation, has been identified that will clearly enhance existing services which many of our Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) deliver to our residents daily. Viper Remote 911 Workstations will allow 911 call takers to perform their duties from a multitude of locations, including home, either in a group or individually. The unit also referred to as “footballs” or “brief cases”, allow 911 operators to connect to public/private networks, wire line or wireless and process 911 and administration calls from the public. This solution will help mitigate the spread of COVID by allowing 911 call takers the ability to work remotely.
Bid Information: This purchase is being executed in accordance with the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code; Intrado Life & Safety Solutions Corporation is the proprietary software licensing and maintenance contractor for the City's current 911 System. The Remote Viper System gives the ...
Click here for full text