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Council previews $2.56 million Motorola radio purchase for police and fire; questions on scope and timing
Summary
Deputy Chief Tad Scott asked council to approve purchase of 286 mission‑critical radios, warranties and services from Motorola under a NASPO cooperative contract for $2,561,648.79; council asked about prior county projects, replacement schedules and how remaining department radios will be handled.
Deputy Chief Tad Scott told the Fayetteville City Council on Jan. 13 that staff seeks approval to acquire mission‑critical radio equipment, accessories, warranties and software services from Motorola Solutions under a NASPO cooperative purchasing contract.
Scott said the full bundle is $2,561,648.79 and covers 286 radios — 177 police portables, 80 fire portables and 29 mobile radios — plus a seven‑year radio warranty and five years of software services. The package includes real‑time personnel tracking and mapping functionality intended to improve situational awareness and coordination during critical incidents. "This capability not only improves situational awareness and enhance coordination of efforts during critical instance, but it also increases the safety of our first responders," Scott said.
Staff told council the purchase was included in the city's capital improvement plan (CIP) split between 2026 and 2027 and that the city has an approximately 10–14 year replacement mindset to avoid large one‑time costs. Scott said the last department radio purchase was in 2011, and staff expect the new radios to last about a decade.
Council members asked why staff selected Motorola given cheaper alternatives and whether similar regional purchases had occurred. Staff and a dispatch manager cited long experience with Motorola equipment, vendor support and new features (cell connectivity, Wi‑Fi and over‑the‑air programming) that other vendors reportedly do not yet offer. Staff estimated bulk purchasing under the cooperative saved roughly $1 million off list price.
Questions also focused on the broader fleet: staff said Fayetteville operates roughly 720 radios across departments and that this purchase covers a 286‑unit subset for fire and police; remaining radios will be repurposed for training, special events and support roles until they reach end of life. Staff said more modest CIP requests tied to additional mobile units and fire portables are expected in 2027 but not another $2.5 million bundle.
No formal vote was recorded at the agenda session; the item was presented on consent for next week’s meeting pending any council requests.
What happens next: staff will present the formal contract and budget adjustments at the upcoming council meeting; council members requested a clearer breakdown of which departments are scheduled for future replacement work.
