Summary:
The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) administers the Arizona 911 Program which disburses revenues collected through the Emergency Telecommunication Services Revolving Fund, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-704. These funds are disbursed to local jurisdictions operating a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Peoria Police Department (PPD) provides 911 services through its own PSAP making them eligible for the Arizona 911 Grant Program. The program allows reimbursements for items such as:
· Equipment or service for implementing and operating emergency telecommunication services, including expenditures for capital, maintenance, and operation purposes
· A wireless carrier's costs associated with the provision, development, design, construction, and maintenance of the wireless emergency telecommunication services
The Peoria Police Department currently receives 911 service through the Maricopa Regional 911 (MR911), which is governed by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and is funded through ADOA 911 Grant Program. The City has no formal written contract or agreement with MR911 or MAG to supply 911 services. Recently, the ADOA completed a competitive solicitation for 911 services in Arizona. The winning bidder of the solicitation was AT&T. The ADOA/AT&T partnership offers municipality services, including Service Level Agreements, better access to communications system solutions, and problem escalation pathways.
PPD' s recommendation to transition from MR911 to AT& T will increase technological capabilities, compatibility with new and emerging technologies, faster problem resolution, and overall increased customer service with the service provider. Additionally, the transition will remain fully funded through the Arizona 911 Grant Program.
PPD Communications staff will move from a relationship with MR911 to AT&T. PPD will administer a five-year contract with AT&T for managed services for its PSAP maintenance and operation to be fully funded by the Arizona 911 Grant Program. The managed services solution provides the PPD with equivalent 911 reliability with the added benefit of more tools at the disposal of 911 operators, up to date technology, off site maintenance and support in real time, software updates within days of release versus the six- year cycle currently experienced, and newer and more robust technologies, all performed in a Call Handling as a Service (CHaaS) environment. These enhancements will allow PPD to implement next generation 911. Next generation 911 provides citizens with the capability to send photo, video, and text to 911. This allows PPD dispatchers to utilize real time data to quickly send help to citizens.