Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc., DBA Priority Dispatch, for procuring additional ProQA software licenses, training and overall project management for the Division of Police Communication Technicians and 911 call takers. Presently, the Communications Technicians answer all 911 calls but transfer the fire and emergency medical services calls to the Fire Alarm Office (FAO) for eventual dispatching. The communication center is increasing the number of civilian employees who will be 911 call takers which requires the current Communication Technicians be certified to answer all 911 emergency medical and fire calls. To be able to certify the civilian communication technicians and future 911 call takers, training will be conducted along with the purchase of additional seat licenses for these additional civilian call taker positions. Priority Dispatch is the current vendor used to certify current Columbus firefighters that answer 911 emergency medical and fire calls at the 911 communication center.
ProQA is based on the Medical Priority Dispatch System and provides a standardized format for carrying out the practice of priority dispatching. It is an automated system which operates by evaluating incoming information according to logical rules built on expert medical knowledge. The Emergency Medical Dispatcher then uses the information provided to send the appropriate response configuration. Medical Priority Consultants is the sole source supplier of this software and maintenance. It would not be cost efficient to seek an alternative software and training regiment for 911 call taking at this time.
Bid Information: This acquisition is being processed in accordance with the sole source provisions of Section 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Priority Dispatch is the proprietary software licensing and maintenance contractor for the City's...
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