Police Mobile Computer Terminal
D~~@UE
~~~
MEMORANDUM
July 14, 2004
E1
~
..
.¡;-
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
':?
_.
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Purchase of New Mobile Computer Terminals
The Dubuque Police Department and Dubuque County Sheriffs Office issued a
Request For Proposal to replace mobile computer terminals designed for mobile patrol
use. The current models are five years old and are experiencing ongoing maintenance
concerns.
Three vendors provided demonstrations, Micro Slate, Panasonic and Racom-Itronix.
Micro Slate requires computer repairs to be completed only by the manufacturer, which
would extend computer downtown repairs. Of the remaining vendors, only Racom-
Itronix submitted a response to the Request for Proposal.
Chief of Police Kim Wadding recommends City Council authorization to purchase
Mobile Computer Terminals for the Dubuque Police Department from Racom-Itronix in
the amount of $110,477.60, which is $43,522.40 (28.3%) under budget.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
,IVIAJI ~Æ1L
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Kim B. Wadding, Chief of Police
rh7B~E
~c/k-~
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
July 12, 2004
TO:
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Kim B. Wadding AI........
Police Chief ~
RE:
Purchase of New Mobile Computer Terminals
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of the memorandum is to seek approval to replace the police department's
mobile computer terminals at a cost of $110,477.60. The scheduled replacement is part
of our 2005 Capital Improvement Plan originally budgeted for $154,000.
BACKGROUND:
Mobile computer terminals are hardened computers designed for mobile patrol use.
Our current models are five years old and are experiencing ongoing maintenance
concerns. The mobile terminals are extensively used on a 24-hour basis and have a
variety of officer uses. The mobile computer terminals allows direct access to Iowa's
On-line Criminal Justice Information System and the National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) to capture vehicle registrations, suspect wants and warrants, missing persons
information, driver's license informatiol'] and searches for lost and/or stolen vehicles and
property.
,
Additionally, the mobile terminals allow data transfer of information between mobile
computers enabling the transmission of sensitive and restrictive information without
having to be broadcasted verbally. The mobile terminals contain a number of software
packages to assist officers with offense reporting, accident investigations, and car-to-car
(text messaging) communication. The replacement proposal allows the replacement of
20 mobile units, 18 for patrol vehicles, a critical incident suitcase solution for mobile
command, and a "hot" spare for temporary repair replacement.
i
DISCUSSION:
Because the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office was also purchasing new mobile
computer terminals, we worked closely with them and Information Services to develop a
Request For Proposal (RFP) to meet our needs and requirements. Various vendors
were invited to demonstrate the new and updated versions of the mobile computer
terminals. Vendors: Micro Slate, Panasonic, and Racom-Itronix provided
demonstrations. Micro Slate requires computer repairs to be completed only by the
manufacturer in comparison to in-house component repair by Information Services or
the police department's User Support Specialist extending computer repair downtime.
As a result, Request for Proposals was sent to Panasonic and Racom-Itronix. Of the
two, Racom-Itronix was the only vendor to respond. When contacted, Panasonic
confirmed they had chose not to respond. The Racom-Itronix system does meet the
specifications of the RFP providing for the necessary components for our mobile
computer terminal system. Pricing for the Mobile Computer Terminals from Racom-
Itronix include:
RECOMMENDATION:
Based upon our research and capabilities of the Go Book II Mobile Computer Terminal,
I recommend the purchase of the Mobile Computer Terminals from Racom-Itronix in the
amount of $11 0,477.60.
ACTION REQUESTED:
As reported earlier, the police department's CIP contains $154,000 for the replacement
purchase of our mobile computer terminals. The pricing and unit design received by
Racom-Itronix meet the proposal specifications. We would seek City Council approval
to purchase the Racom-Itronix mobile computer terminals in the amount of $110,477.60.
Cc:
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Manager