COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

CAL-ID

REMOTE ACCESS NETWORK (RAN) BOARD

DATE:

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 15, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

G. McLane, Chair, CAL-ID RAN Board

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Telecommunications Engineering Associates for maintenance services supporting the Law Enforcement Data Communication Network.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution waiving the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and authorizing the Sheriff to execute an Agreement with Telecommunications Engineering Associates for comprehensive maintenance, engineering, and administration services supporting the San Mateo County Law Enforcement Data Communication Network (LawNet), for a three (3) year term expiring June 30, 2009 and an amount not to exceed $221,130.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

The proposed agreement to support LawNet improves public safety through a multiagency cooperative agreement to establish and expand the computer network LawNet for sharing all critical law enforcement and first responder information.

Performance Measures:

As approved by the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff’s Association, the following Message Switch service levels are maintained by the supporting staff:

System Availability -

99% of a 24-hour clock

Network Availability -

98.5% of a 24-hour clock

Problem Call-Back -

30 minutes from time reported to County

System Recovery -

4 hours from problem report

Network Recovery -

First priority will be given to MSS network. Network recovery time is dependent on nature of problem and possible emergency environmental conditions.

Upgrade of the Message Switch computer platform is required in order to continue meeting these strict service levels.

BACKGROUND:

The Countywide LawNet secured law enforcement intranet is an important component of the Message Switch/LawNet system which provides vital public safety information to County law enforcement agencies and city police departments. On July 31, 2001, the County entered into an Agreement (Resolution No. 64631) with TEA for the development of a Countywide law enforcement network (LawNet) for law enforcement agencies in San Mateo County which provides shared access to critical databases and systems while ensuring state-of-the art security to protect against unauthorized use of restricted information.

LawNet is one of the most successful regional law enforcement networks of its kind. Since LawNet’s inception every municipal law enforcement agency in the County now participates and shares information through LawNet.

DISCUSSION:

The proposed Agreement will allow for TEA to provide ongoing maintenance that includes trouble reporting system, hardware and software maintenance, network administration, and data communications system administration. Additionally, LawNet was established with a dual redundancy feature, with one network hub in South County, maintained by ISD and the Sheriff’s Office, and one hub in North County, in South San Francisco, which is directly supported by TEA as part of the Agreement. TEA has over the years, earned the confidence of the County Police Chiefs and Sheriff’s Association in supporting officer-safety-critical systems, and has worked on a number of successful projects for various police agencies in San Mateo County.

With TEA’s extensive knowledge and experience with LawNet network administration, and excellent security record, it is in the County’s best interest to waive the RFP process and enter into a contract with TEA as a sole source provider.

Due to the unique and multi-jurisdictional nature of this contract, it is recommended that the Sheriff or his designee be authorized to execute this Agreement, as well as any future amendments as long as the cost increase, if any, can be born within the existing MSS-JPA Budget.

The Contractor has assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Agreement as to legal form. The Information Services Department has reviewed and concurs with the Agreement as well.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The annual cost of the proposed agreement with TEA $73,710 was anticipated and has already been included in the approved FY 2006-07 Message Switch System Budget. Therefore, there is no additional impact on the County’s General Fund resulting from this Agreement.