ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY - 2005 UASI

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Attachment A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND INTEROPERABILITY GUIDANCE In May 2004, ODP adopted language about grant guidance developed by SAFECOM in an effort to ensure interoperability through the various layers of federal, state and local government. (See ODP Information Bulletin #113.) SAFECOM developed this general grant criteria in concert with representatives of the public safety community in an effort to coordinate the way in which funding is allocated and to maximize the prospects for interoperable communications. The intent of the SAFECOM grant guidance is to ensure that the communications equipment being procured will lead to improved multi - disciplinary and/or multi - jurisdictional interoperable public safety communications. The grant guidance provides a list of questions to be answered in order to demonstrate how the applicants proposed project would enhance interoperability. The guidance also encourages that —where appropriate — applicants purchase equipment that meets standards that have been developed and adopted by the public safety communications community— American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/TIA/EIAA -102 Phase 1 (Project 25) suite of standards. This recommendation is intended for government -owned or - leased land mobile public safety radio equipment, and its purpose is to make sure that such equipment or systems are capable of interoperating with other public safety land mobile equipment or systems. It is not intended to apply to commercial services that offer other types of interoperability solutions and does not exclude any application if it demonstrates that the system or equipment being proposed will lead to enhanced interoperability. The grant guidance does not propose to preclude funding of non - Project 25 equipment when there are compelling reasons for using other solutions. Absent these compelling reasons, ODP intends that Project 25 equipment will be preferred for digital systems to which the standard applies. The SAFECOM interoperable communications guidance addresses the following issues: Criteria • Who Should Be Involved with Public Safety Communications Interoperability • Lifecycle of Public Safety Communications Projects • Common Public Safety Communications Goals • Common Criteria for All Grant Applicants • Standards • Governance • Criteria for Public Safety Communications Equipment Grants o Building, Upgrading, Enhancing, Replacing and Maintaining Public Safety Communications Systems and Equipment • Supplemental Criteria for Public Safety Equipment Grants H -1