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Bedford approves $824,183 purchase for regional radio system upgrade
Summary
The Bedford City Council approved a resolution authorizing a contract with Motorola Solutions to buy components for a regional land mobile radio upgrade estimated at $824,183; the cost will be shared among six partner cities and funded initially from ARPA/county funds with reimbursement.
The Bedford City Council on April 8 approved a resolution authorizing the city to contract with Motorola Solutions for radio system infrastructure components in an amount estimated at $824,183.
The purchase is the first phase of a multiyear upgrade to a regional land mobile radio system used by Bedford’s police and fire departments and five partner cities. Fire Chief Bill Walker said the work is a technology migration that replaces aging hardware last substantially upgraded in 2010 and that the full program could total several million dollars when complete. “This is the start of some major, upgrades that are required for our land mobile radio system,” Walker said.
The council’s approval follows a technical briefing by Motorola representative Casey Moore, who described the work as a virtualization of several hardware components into smaller, server-based systems. “We can take all these individual boxes and put them on two servers,” Moore said, saying the vendor’s newer platform will reduce shelter footprint and power requirements while preparing for future capabilities such as satellite backhaul and next‑generation 9‑1‑1 integration.
City staff said the $824,183 figure represents Bedford’s share of an item identified as “prime site migration and site controllers” and that the total upgrade across the six‑city consortium is larger; staff characterized the per‑partner share as roughly $137,000. Assistant City Manager Karen Riggs told council the city will pay its portion up front from ARPA‑designated funds (county ARPA/interest) and be reimbursed as part of the interlocal cost‑sharing arrangements.
Councilmembers asked about alternatives and cost allocation. Walker and Moore said the vendor’s platform is the common public‑safety standard and noted some dispatch console replacements could be delayed while partner cities consider consolidation options. Moore said some existing components are forecast to reach end of life by late 2030, which is driving the upgrade timetable.
Councilmember Parker moved to approve the resolution; Mayor Pro Tem Gagliardi seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The upgrade is intended to keep Bedford’s radio communications compatible with regional partners and to reduce the risk of failures caused by aging equipment. Staff said additional phases and equipment (dispatch consoles, base stations and controllers) will come back to the consortium and to each city for separate approvals and budgeting.
