Title
Approval to Submit an Assistance To Firefighters Grant to the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency In The Amount of $217,203.75.
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the request to submit a grant application to the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in the amount not to exceed $217, 203.75.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the request to submit a grant application to the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency as requested.
Body
The majority of Los Alamos Fire Department's current portable radios are six to eight years old and have reached the end of their service life. LAFD needs to replace all of the portable radios over the next three years per the replacement schedule. The purpose of this grant is to secure funding to begin portable radio replacement. The portable radios that LAFD plans to purchase are the Harris XL-200P Full-Spectrum Multiband Radios. The XL-200P radio is a tri-band radio that will allow LAFD to communicate with various agencies throughout New Mexico and the United States using this single radio. LAFD currently uses one radio communications within Los Alamos and has a different radio for communication with agencies outside of the county. This single radio will take the place of the two radios currently in use. In addition, this radio has other advantages over the current Harris radio that LAFD utilizes: ability to wirelessly interface with the facepieces on LAFD's breathing apparatus to allow for clearer radio communication when personnel are on-air using their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus', intrinsically safe which means it enhances firefighter safety when operating in explosive environments, is LTE, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi capable, and has more power when transmitting radio messages.
Alternatives
The alternative to submitting the grant appli...
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