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Smyth County Virginia Contracts with Federal Engineering for Radio System Assessment
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, November 8, 2021 – Smyth County, Virginia has awarded Federal Engineering, Inc. (FE) a contract to assess the County’s public safety radio system in anticipation of future upgrades.
Mr. Shannon Williams, 911 Coordinator for the County provided an overview: “Federal Engineering has been consulting with Virginia jurisdictions for decades. They understand our operational situation and the need to interoperate with surrounding jurisdictions. In addition, they bring best of breed experiences to our project because their client base spans the nation. We are looking forward to their participation and guidance during this project.”
Mr. Brad Barber, FE Director provided a vignette of the project: “FE has carefully selected a team of long-tenured, in-house subject matter experts to work with Smyth County. Our team members have direct, hands-on experience working in Virginia in all facets of radio system projects. Since many are former first responders and dispatch center and radio system managers, they understand both the technical and operational dimensions to this project.”
Mr. Barber went on: “FE will develop a detailed understanding of the existing system by reviewing documentation and conducting site surveys. We will then meet with system users to understand and document their current and future needs. A computer coverage analysis will be performed using our sophisticated FECoverage™ model to establish a baseline of the existing system performance so we can determine what changes are needed to meet the radio coverage needs of users. A technical analysis of the best design alternative will be completed including the costs. At the conclusion, FE will deliver a Radio System Assessment and Recommendations Report. We will also be available to support the County’s procurement efforts as well as provide project management services be during implementation.”
Federal Engineering is a leading, nationwide firm providing analysis, design, procurement, and implementation support for 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 and CBRS. These services complement FE’s wide range of dispatch center consulting services in NG911, PSAPs, RTTCs, ECCs, and EOCs. 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 in understanding 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.