The communications system for Lorain County safety services is moving forward as three major radio manufacturing companies have shown interest in competing for the county contract.
The communication system the Lorain County commissioners are requiring the companies to produce, will “allow any and all communities to purchase whatever radios they want so they’ll be interoperable,” said Commission President Dave Moore.
County officials have met with MCM Consulting and others as they examine potential antenna sites, Moore said.
So far, the project has garnered interest from a number of radio manufacturing companies, he said.
“The commissioners are delighted that at least three major manufacturers E.F. Johnson Technologies, Motorola and L3 Harris along with several local companies signed on to the project,” according to a statement Moore provided to The Morning Journal.
Companies interested in competing for the bid contract have until Sept. 20 to submit questions, Moore said.
The bidding process will close Oct. 20, he said.
The Elyria Fire Department already has purchased the L3 Harris radios as safety services continue toward the goal of replacing its aging communication system.
Elyria City Council approved the purchase of the radios and and the city’s Communication’s Department has been amazing as it steadily works installing the radios and supporting equipment in each vehicle at the Fire Department, said Safety Service Director Matt Lundy.
The radios, which cost $360,000, were funded in part with American Rescue Plan Act funds, Lundy said.
“Council approved it for us,” he said.
“Thank you to the city administration and city council for allowing these purchases,” the Fire Department stated in a recent Facebook post in an announcement about the new radios.
The radios are expected to be ready to be put into service by the September, Lundy said.
“Soon the EFD (Elyria Fire Department) will truly take a giant step in modern communications and radio equipment as we place our new Harris Radios into service and move to the Harris L3 700 system next month,” the Fire Department’s post stated.
The Fire Department also installed new wireless headsets so fire and dispatching personnel can improve communication with each other.
