Sarasota County approves contract with Manatee County for joint public safety radio system

After almost three years, Sarasota and Manatee Counties will finally replace their public safety radio systems.

The Sarasota County Commissioners unanimously approved a $19.5 million contract with Airbus DS Communications and Manatee County for the design, installation and maintenance of the Suncoast Regional Communications System and a $242,897 contract with Omnicom Consulting Group and Manatee County for the consulting services for the joint system at today's board meeting.

In anticipation of the need to replace the 800-MHz system, Sarasota County hired a consultant in September 2012 to come up with a scope of work to replace both counties’ systems. Manatee County agreed to pay half of the cost for the consulting service.

The radio system will cover 32 agencies and 4,800 radios in Sarasota County and 35 agencies and 3,300 radios in Manatee.

The purpose of the joint system is to enhance public safety and other government communications while saving money for both counties by installing one system instead of two; improve the quality of inter-county public safety communications; and improve radio coverage on University Parkway.

Airbus will prove a system manager who will help the counties to plan and manage the radio system, which is estimated for complete installation by 2017.