Court approves $330,274.59 L3Harris invoice for P25 radio purchases; ARPA funds used

Van Zandt County Commissioners Court approved payment of a consolidated invoice from L3Harris for $330,274.59 covering radios and accessories acquired between 2024 and mid-2025 under the county’s P25 radio contract. County staff said the payment consolidates previously billed orders and that the overall P25 contract exceeds $6.5 million for equipment being distributed to law enforcement, public-safety agencies and volunteer fire departments in the county. "This is the radios that we purchased for law enforcement, for public safety, and for all the volunteer fire departments," a county presenter said. The presenter confirmed the invoice is to be paid from ARPA funds allocated to the radio project. When asked whether ARPA funds can be used for general budget items, staff said ARPA expenditures must be approved for specific projects and that the county uses a third-party administrator, GrantWorks, to ensure all ARPA spending meets federal requirements. The court moved, seconded and approved the payment on the record after no further discussion. The county judge said the county has received roughly $11 million in ARPA funds and that GrantWorks manages allocations and compliance reviews. Court members were shown the contract and order history related to the purchases during the item discussion.