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Edmonton, Canada Awards Federal Engineering Fire Rescue Services Radio Consulting Contract
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, August 31, 2015 — The City of Edmonton, Canada has awarded Federal Engineering, Inc. (FE) a contract to evaluate their existing radio system and determine the best approach for migration of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) to the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS).
Mr. Terry Owen, Edmonton Project Manager for Dispatch Systems Replacement, indicated: “The current EDACS system has performed well over its lifetime and is now considered to be in the end of life phase. The City of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services has been evaluating available options to replace this aging system. We determined we needed additional expertise and selected Federal Engineering because of their unique technical and operations backgrounds. FE personnel have served as first responders and understand, from a user perspective, how these systems must function. In addition, the firm’s previous work in Alberta allows them to appreciate our unique circumstances and needs.”
Mr. Ronald F. Bosco, FE’s President, provided a vignette of the Edmonton project: “Although they are both first responders, the Fire Ground Communications required by fire fighters is quite different then the needs of law enforcement. FE will assess Fire Ground Communications industry best practices for voice radio communications and incorporate our findings into the acquisition and testing processes. In the process, FE will develop and administer an online survey to elicit inputs from users, analyze the survey data, conduct user workshops and develop alternatives for fire ground best practices for the migration to AFRRCS. FE will also support procurement activities by developing Public Safety Radio Subscriber Technical Specifications that describes the functional and performance requirements of the subscriber radio units, reviewing vendor proposals, and assisting with contract negotiations.”
Mr. Bosco went on: “EFRS is taking a very thorough approach to ensure that the new system and radios will meet the needs of its fire fighters. A Proof of Concept Test at the EFRS Fire Training Centre will be developed and managed by FE. Test cases including failure scenarios will be executed and evaluated. Any deficiencies will be documented and recommended corrective actions identified. FE will also be available for on-call technical support throughout the implementation phase of this project should the need arise.”
Federal Engineering provides analysis, design, procurement, and implementation support for NG9-1-1, PSAPs, ECCs, and EOCs. These services complement FE’s wide range of consulting services in public safety and public service communications involving LTE as well as traditional VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 4.9GHz mobile radio systems. FE also supports FirstNet planning in anticipation of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. Since 1983, FE has completed thousands of communications projects for 40 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.