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FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, July 13, 2020 — The Elmore County Board of Commissioners and Emergency Services in Idaho have awarded Federal Engineering, Inc. (FE) a contract to assess the County’s public safety mobile radio system and recommend improvements to better meet first responder needs.

Mr. Alan Roberts, Project Manager for the County stated: “The Elmore County 911 Board and Emergency Services were seeking an independent consultant to evaluate and make recommendations for improvements to the County’s existing public safety radio infrastructure. The County’s first responders, consisting of two law enforcement agencies, three volunteer fire departments, and one countywide emergency management service, currently operate on multiple frequency bands, with six towers supporting countywide radio communications. Fire uses VHF radios and belt-clip pagers, while other County agencies use UHF radios; the County also has access to 700 MHz spectrum. The Board’s objectives are to assess existing countywide radio communications and then facilitate consensus among emergency organizations for next steps to improve communications and interoperability across Elmore County’s public safety organizations. We are looking forward to working with Federal Engineering. The firm was selected because of their extensive experience in Idaho, understanding of our unique needs, and industry-wide reputation.

Mr. Rajit Jhaver, FE Director, provided a vignette of the project: “As the County’s radio consultant, FE will evaluate users’ needs and assess the existing infrastructure, tower sites, and equipment. We will determine high-level requirements for the radio system, connectivity, fire paging, and portables and mobiles. Using our comprehensive FETeamCoverage™ tool, we will conduct a coverage workshop with the County to identify areas that require improved coverage and desirable locations for new radio system transmitters and receivers. Using our in-house FECostPro™ tool, we will estimate the cost of the public safety radio system design under consideration, based on coverage design, number of new or retrofit tower sites, our experience with systems comparable to the County’s, and publicly available industry information. FE will then recommend replacement, modifications, or expansion necessary to achieve acceptable mobile and portable radio coverage and improved interoperability throughout Elmore County.”

Federal Engineering is a leading, nationwide firm providing analysis, design, procurement, and implementation support for NG911, PSAPs, ECCs, and EOCs. These services complement FE’s wide range of consulting services in public safety and public service communications involving traditional VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 4.9GHz mobile radio systems as well as LTE. FE’s cybersecurity practice helps our clients defend against today’s complex and ever-changing threat landscape. FE also serves as trusted advisors to assist clients understand emerging services such as FirstNet and the impacts on their current and future plans. Since 1983, FE has completed thousands of communications projects for 46 state governments, as well as numerous local and federal government clients.

In addition to its public sector work, Federal Engineering provides design and implementation support services for voice, data, and video networks used in the transportation, utilities, aerospace, finance, education, publishing, and computer services industries. FE’s certified independence ensures that clients receive objective, unbiased consulting services that are not influenced by any particular technology, product, vendor, or approach.