County approves $2.3 million sole-source Vesta 9‑1‑1 hardware upgrade for Emergency Communications
Loading...
Summary
The Board approved a sole-source contract with Carousel Industries to replace and upgrade the county's 9‑1‑1 hardware (Vesta system) including a five‑year maintenance agreement; funding comes from state phone‑billing-derived grants and imposes no local cost, officials said.
The Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a sole-source contract to Carousel Industries for a Vesta 9‑1‑1 hardware refresh and software upgrade, a project the county says will improve caller‑location accuracy and add text‑to‑9‑1‑1 capabilities.
Brandy Kettner, director of purchasing, presented the recommendation and said the total proposal value is $2,306,963.70, which includes five years of maintenance and support at $70,760 per year. "This includes maintenance and support for a five year period at $70,760 per year," Kettner said. She added the award is contingent on county‑attorney approval of the final agreement.
Alan Matheny, director of Emergency Communications, confirmed the county will implement text‑to‑9‑1‑1 functionality as part of the upgrade; video capability was not included at this time because of storage and retention considerations, he said. Kettner and Matheny told commissioners funding is available through the state's 9‑1‑1 fund (fees collected on phone bills) and that the board had previously approved the grant funding.
County staff cited section 1‑106.2(a)(2) of the Washington County Code as the basis for a sole‑source procurement, noting that equipment compatibility was a primary consideration.
The board approved the purchase by voice vote; the clerk recorded the motion as approved 5‑0. County officials said the upgrade should improve 9‑1‑1 call location and responsiveness for dispatchers and first responders.
