Dayton Daily News...
State senator urges bidding for safety agencies’ radios
By Amelia Robinson, Staff Writer
Thursday, July 12, 2012 

Competitive bids for the purchase of first-responder radios could save up to $1 billion, State Sen. Chris Widener projected last week. 

The ability of safety agencies that join the state’s Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) to seek bids from various companies was included in the state capital budget approved in April. 

Joining MARCS would save communities the heavy expense of building and maintaining their own radio systems and allow for interoperability among agencies, officials say. 

The budget included a $90 million upgrade of MARCS to comply with “Project 25” standards that call for seamless digital radio communications among federal, state and local public safety agencies, said Widener, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. His 10th District includes Clark, Greene and Madison counties. 

Officials say it could cost Ohio’s 13,000 fire and police radio systems a combined $2 billion to buy Project 25 radios outright. “We will save local governments about a billion to make sure they can get competitive bids,” Widener said. 

Beavercreek Twp. Trustee chairman Bob Glaser said he has helped get a $2,700-per-radio price as part of efforts to comply. The township typically budgets $5,000 to $6,000 per radio. The township got a 10-year loan from the Local Government Innovation Fund as part of an application partnership with Miami Twp. and Cedarville. Combined, the three communities will get $197,000 to buy MARCS radios. 

Dan Paxson, a Beavercreek Twp. trustee, said not everyone in Greene County favors joining MARCS. At a recent trustee meeting, he cited concerns the state might one day discontinue funding the system. 

Officials say the 911 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina illustrated the need for agencies to have compatible radios. 

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