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FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, October 26, 2020 — The State of Arkansas has selected Federal Engineering, Inc. (FE) to develop a plan that addresses the potential consolidation of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and makes recommendations for the Arkansas 911 Board to fund up to 77 PSAPs. This plan aligns with the Goals and Objectives outlined in the State of Arkansas Statewide NG9-1-1 Plan and migration path towards NG9-1-1 services throughout the State.

Mr. Colton (CJ) Engel, Executive Director for Arkansas 911 Board described the project: “Arkansas is a constitutional home rule state and decisions related to 9-1-1 and public safety communications are most often made at the local level. Pursuant to The Public Safety Act of 2019, which was enacted during the 92nd General Assembly of the State, the Arkansas 911 Board is required to develop a feasibility strategy and plan by January 1, 2022, to provide funding for no more than 77 PSAPs within the State. There are currently 102 PSAPs in the State. Federal Engineering will develop a strategic plan to recommend how PSAPs can be consolidated technologically and/or physically to achieve operational and cost efficiencies. However, any consolidation that may take place will be the initiative of an individual county or municipality or a group of counties and/or municipalities.”

• Mr. Ronald F. Bosco, President of Federal Engineering provided additional details: “We are thrilled that Arkansas recognizes the depth of our firm and has selected us for this important statewide effort. FE will develop a feasibility strategy that includes:
• Discussion of the consolidation of PSAPs, functions, enhanced 911 service areas, and physical facilities of two or more PSAPs, resulting in the consolidated enhanced 911 service area.
• Discussion of the consolidation of two or more PSAPs utilizing shared services technology to combine PSAP systems, including 911 call processing equipment, computer-aided dispatch, mapping, radio, and logging recorders.
• Examination of PSAP equipment life cycle replacement to minimize waste.
• Assessment of how all of these elements can be leveraged to create an emergency services network that encompasses 911, public safety voice communications, FirstNET data and will utilize the planned ESInet.
• Review of Arkansas Code 12-10-305, Arkansas Code 12-10-318, and Arkansas Code 12-10-326 and other relevant Code provisions to determine the most efficient method of distributing Public Safety Fee revenues to support a network of consolidated PSAPs and consolidated 911 communication networks.

The State can rely upon our decades of experience to deliver recommendations that are both practical and implementable.”

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 technology, product, vendor, or approach.