HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-Consideration of a Material Purchase of Radios for the Water SCADA EquipmentTRUC EE DONNE
Public Utility District
ACTION
To:
Board of Directors
From:
Peter Rosales
Date:
January 16, 2013
Subject: Consideration of a Material Purchase of Radios for the Water
SCADA Equipment
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
Board approval is required for expenditures in excess of $15,000.
2. HISTORY
Current operating SCADA radios do not meet the new regulation for channel
narrowbanding. In December 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
announced that all non -Federal radio licensees operating 25kHz (wideband) systems
in the 150-174 MHz (VHF) and 421-512 MHz (UHF) bands must migrate to the more
efficient 12.5kHz (narrowband) channel by January 1, 2013.
3. NEW INFORMATION
In December, District staff discovered that the Truckee Donner PUD Water SCADA
radios would soon be out of compliance with the FCC narrowbanding mandate.
Continued wideband operations violates FCC rules and may cause interference to
adjacent narrowband channels used for public safety.
The FCC has stated it will take any non -compliant systems off the air after the
deadline or assess Federal penalties including fines.
Forty-two existing Water SCADA radios will need to be replaced in order to achieve
compliance. These new replacement radios will be temporarily installed in the existing
Water SCADA system and will be reused in the new Water SCADA system currently
under construction.
With only weeks before the January 1, 2013 deadline, the District was faced with the
challenge to find a replacement radio model which would have the functionality to
operate and communicate exactly as the obsolete wideband radios. Three vendors
were contacted and asked to provide proposals for replacement radios. Two vendors
were unable to provide the radios, testing and service support. The third vendor, Sage
Designs, is able to deliver the radios, and provide testing and technical support
necessary for getting the SCADA radios back in compliance.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds exist in the FY13 budget for this purchase of 42 radios and 8
antennas.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Approve the purchase of equipment to replace the existing models in the amount of
$69,600 with a 10% contingency for an amount not to exceed $76,560 excluding
taxes.
.P
Stephen Hollabaugh Michael D. Holley
Assistant General Manager General Manager