Maryland firm submits low bid for radio study

Whitman County commissioners on Monday opened five bid proposals for radio system consulting services for the county’s emergency management.

Emergency Management Director Bill Tensfeld in February requested to advertise for a consultant. The consultant will evaluate the current radio systems in use within the county.

The apparent lowest bid was from Concepts to Operation of Annapolis, Md., for $76,700.

The highest bid came from Sparling, Inc., of Lynnwood at $138,660, followed by Federal Engineering Inc., Fairfax, Va., $115,508; RCC Consultants, Woodbridge, NJ, $92,378; Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers, Seattle, $82,800.

The bids will be reviewed by the emergency management committee with the aim of having a recommendation back to the commissioners at the start of next week.

The call for bids requested a review of five emergency systems in the county. They include Whitman County Sheriff, Firenet (covers northwest Whitman County), Fire 3 (south county including Districts 12 and 14 and Palouse), Colfax Fire and Sierra (WSU).

The consultant will evaluate the county’s current radio sites and determine if the sites are suitable and appropriately placed to accomplish the best possible coverage.

Tensfeld said the Federal Communications Commission is narrowing the radio frequencies, putting more pressure on outlying areas for radio coverage.

Whitman County public safety has already had all of its radio licenses reissued to meet the narrow banding deadline.

The consulting firms will be required to perform evaluations, prepare a report identifying existing conditions and make recommendations.

Also Monday, county commissioners approved Tensfeld’s request of recycling an old communications trailer to the county’s Amateur Radio Emergency Services group. He said the county would utilize the group in the event county communication towers become inactive.