Submitted By
Fire Chief Thomas Ebsen
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving an Independent Contractor Agreement with Digicom, Inc. to Install Phoenix G2 Automated Fire Station Alerting System Equipment for all Oak Park Fire Department Stations in an Amount Not to Exceed $25,174.00 and Authorizing its Execution
End
Overview
Overview
The Fire Department's Station Alerting System is an essential communication tool that processes calls for service from the 911 center to the fire department. This consists of equipment at both the dispatch center and the fire stations to quickly get information from the dispatcher to the Firefighter/Paramedics. Equipment includes speakers, lights, sign boards, processing computer/programs, and redundancy components. The current alerting system at all three stations is outdated and can no longer be serviced. Our 911 Center (WSCDC) is installing the corresponding control equipment from US Digital Designs in the first quarter of 2019. This installation agreement is with the preferred installer of US Digital Designs equipment in the Chicago/Metro area.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution
Fiscal Impact
This item was approved in the 2019 CIP budget.
Background
The current equipment was originally obtained in 2000 with off-the-shelf parts. It consists of a VHF Federal Signal Informer wired into a home-built amplifier system. For lighting we were able to purchase a delay timer off the internet and wire it to a fan relay to power the lights. The system is provisional and does not always work correctly. Tones are startling and the voice quality is poor. This subsequently forces fire companies to walk to their vehicles and check the computer screen to see what the address and nature of the call is because it is unintelligible over the system.
Through the years we have had to replace multiple components that are increasingly difficult to acquire due to the age of the products and the advancements in the standards for station alerting systems. Programming and modifying the alert boxes themselves is nearly impossible due to the fact that the computer operating software no longer works with the software. Attempts were also made using resistors and relay timers to create “ramped tone” style alerts with minimal lasting success. We have also attempted to wire in a backup system using radio pagers and amplifiers, but this did not work as well as hoped and was not an effective redundant alerting system for an area as busy as ours.
After an extensive staff evaluation of our alerting methods, the following deficiencies were found:
• Tones not meeting NFPA 1500 “Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program”.
• Delayed dispatches not meeting NFPA 1710 “Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments”.
• Equipment failure and setup not meeting NFPA 1221 “Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems”.
• Interoperable deficiencies relating to the dispatch and response of calls for mutual aid.
WSCDC approved the purchase of the control equipment for US Digital Design alerting systems in late 2018 and will be installing the equipment in first quarter 2019. This system is also being purchased by the River Forest Fire Department whose current alerting system is also outdated and no longer serviceable.
Alternatives
Staff does not recommend the alternative which would be to maintain the current system.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
AnticN/Aipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A