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c;troe City Council Report
Santa Monica''
City Council Meeting: February 10, 2009
Agenda Item: ~ ®~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jim Hone, Fire Chief
Jory Wolf, Chief Information Officer
Subject: Purchase of Hazardous Materials Interoperability System
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a sole source contract with Safe Environment Engineering for the purchase of
Lifeline Regional Interoperability System and 5 year maintenance agreement in a total
amount not to exceed $123,384 from the no-match Urban Area Security Initiative Grant.
Executive Summary
The Lifeline Regional Interoperability System enables emergency agencies in Los
Angeles County to communicate and transmit hazardous materials data using wireless
technology. This system was developed based on an initiative from the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security due to the critical national need for a reliable
integrated communication system. Presently, this proprietary system is the only one of
its kind and it is currently active in several area cities including Glendale, Burbank, Los
Angeles as well as LA County. The cost of this system including a 5 year maintenance
agreement is $123,384 and is entirely funded by the no-match Urban Area Security
Initiative Grant.
Discussion
In 2007, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiated a pilot program in Los
Angeles to develop, test and deploy acity-wide Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
detection, alert and emergency communication system. The leading agency, City of Los
Angeles, contracted with Safe Environment Engineering to develop an interoperable
data communications system known as the Lifeline Regional Interoperability System.
The system allows wireless integration of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear,
and Explosive (CBRNE) instruments, as well as telemetry, Internet connectivity and
alert and notification systems sharing with multiple agencies. Upon a successful test of
the pilot program, the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association authorized regional
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emergency response agencies to purchase the system using the Urban Area Security
Initiative Grant.
The Santa Monica Fire Departments Hazardous Materials Response Truck has been
designated as a Los Angeles County regional resource for response to major hazardous
materials incidents including terrorist events involving WMD within the county
boundaries and beyond. As a result, it is recommended that our Hazardous Materials
Response Truck be equipped with the necessary equipment to communicate effectively
with other designated agencies that respond to the same event.
Agencies that currently have this proprietary system are .Los Angeles City Fire
Department, Glendale Fire Department, Burbank Fire Department, Los Angeles County
Sheriff Haz-Mat, Los Angeles City Police Department, and Los Angeles County Sheriff
SWAT.
Contractor/Consultant Selection
This system involves multiple proprietary hardware and software systems that are only
available from Safe Environment Engineering.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The cost of this system including a 5 year maintenance agreement is $123,384. Funds
are available in the no-match Urban Area Security Initiative Grant, account number
20312.555393. Acceptance and appropriation of grant funding was approved by City
Council on July 8, 2008.
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Prepared by:
Megan Tabibian, Systems Analyst
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Jim ~Yone - P. L ont t~
Fire Chief, Fire Department Ci y Manager
~~ ~r Try WC1~'
Jerry Wolf
Chief Information Officer, Information
Systems ,
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Reference Contract No.
9035 (CCS).