Primary Department: Universal Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director
Managing Department: Universal Services
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director & CIO
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Radio Replacement and Purchase Program
Project ID (if applicable): NI025
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $9,600,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $10,370,000 (FY2027)
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of the Final Investment Memo for the Radio Replacement and Purchase Program for an incremental authorization of $9,600,000 for a total authorization of $10,370,000 for FY2027.
end
Project Description:
This initiative is part of the ongoing Harris County Radio Replacement and Purchase Program, which manages the replacement and procurement of radio equipment for general fund supported agencies and departments. The program also supports Commissioner’s Court approved net new PCN requests for portable radios and net new vehicles requiring mobile radios.
Because radio subscriber units typically have an optimal service life of approximately seven years, timely replacement is essential to maintaining reliable communication. Proactively replacing aging equipment helps preserve system compatibility, support interoperability among County departments, minimize service disruptions, and reduce the maintenance costs associated with legacy units. These efforts help ensure dependable communications for public safety personnel and other County agencies during routine operations and emergency response.
Scope of Deployment
• One portable radio assigned to a net new PCN
• One mobile radio assigned to a net new vehicle
• Standard radio only; no additional accessories are included
• No programming or other services are provided with the new radios
• Airtime fees begin when the radio is deployed from the Radio Shop to the department
• Radio assets are intended for daily operational use and may not be used as spare or cache equipment
• Commissioner Court net new approved positions and vehicles identified as requiring a new radio must have a documented justification demonstrating the operational need to support essential operations, maintain communication readiness, and meet departmental safety and coordination requirements.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
618 Total Mobile Radio Replacements- 931 Total Portable Radio Replacements - |
$9,170,000 |
9/30/2027 |
|
HCUS Project Support - (Project Manager) |
$200,000 |
9/30/2027 |
|
Contingency |
$1,000,000 |
|
|
FY27 Total Authorization |
$10,370,000 |
- |
|
Unencumbered existing project balance to carry into FY27 |
($770,000) |
|
|
FY27 Incremental Authorization |
$9,600,000 |
|
Justification & Alternatives:
The County is working to replace outdated radio equipment that exceeds the asset management lifecycle. This project is critical because radios are a primary communication lifeline for first responders. This mix of differently aged radios with non-standardized features and models increases the cost of programming and maintenance support and makes training more complex. The newer radios purchased through this project will be easier to maintain as they will be within their intended asset life. Some of the benefits of the new radios include:
× Users will be able to take advantage of up-to-date technology on the network.
× Communication will be more reliable.
× Radios will be able to perform within the design parameters.
A unified purchasing approach for all new radio assets ensures that departments are able provide life-saving missions critical to their personnel. Universal Services uses a single funding source for this project that allows for better purchasing power with the selected vendors, quicker radio deployment, and better inventory lifecycle management.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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$- |
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- |
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$- |
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- |
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Total |
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$- |
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- |
County Strategic Plan Goal: 5. Minimize the impact of climate change and disasters.
County Strategic Plan Objective: R: Enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): R3: Strengthen the County’s emergency response function.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Decision Analysis Matrix Score (rubric on last page):
Previous Court Action:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
9/14/2021 |
21-4637 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5134519&GUID=2ECA25BE-33C1-426F-84AF-5FCF7FCE07A3&Options=ID|Text|&Search=radio+replacement>Request for approval amount of $8,200,000 for a total CP funding of $28,035,000. |
|
|
8/23/2022 |
22-4956 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5764224&GUID=A1357C5D-1D0B-4A75-96D4-B03F0D7F7990&Options=ID|Text|&Search=22-4956> FY23 request for additional authorization of $4,630,000 |
|
10/11/2022 22-6321 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5867750&GUID=455C448D-66CD-45CA-8134-4BBAAB813751&Options=ID|Text|&Search=radio+replacement>[No Action] Request for approval of commercial paper funding for $4,630,000
|
for a total CP funding of $32,665,000. |
|
|
10/18/2022 |
22-6610 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5885803&GUID=60A6D551-B032-4EF4-B3A9-F0BDDA2B867B&Options=ID|Text|&Search=radio+replacement>Request for approval of commercial paper funding for $4,630,000 for a total CP funding of $32,665,000. |
|
|
07/18/2023 |
23-3950 |
FY24 request for additional authorization of $6,471731 |
|
04/23/2024 |
24-2259 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6640276&GUID=BDCC3AA4-0D5A-4FB6-B9D2-CF072250A0D3&Options=ID|Text|&Search=radio+replacement>Request for $6,100,000 for a total CP funding of $38,765,000. |
|
|
10/8/2024 |
24-6278 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6883513&GUID=0CBEF4AE-4BDE-4043-A22B-2D78E5C713EE&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=23-3950>FY25 request for additional incremental authorization of $10,342,683. |
|
|
10/29/2024 |
24-6716 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6903720&GUID=01BA53A3-830A-4C0D-9D70-D91556958E26&Options=ID|Text|&Search=radio+replacement>FY25 request for $3,875,000 for a total CP funding of $42,640,000. |
|
|
04/10/2025 |
25-2377 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7290050&GUID=4D0BC02B-DFBA-4DD9-86DD-7BDCC16FF63F&Options=ID|Text|&Search=radio+replacement>FY25 Request for $6,470,000 for total CP funding of $49,110,000 |
|
|
03/19/2026 |
26-1985 <https://harriscountytx.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7950676&GUID=0E6D858D-0ED9-4A9C-8796-9AA48C08F5D7&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=23-3950>FY26 Request for an incremental authorization of $9,000,000 for total authorization of $9,350,000 for FY2026, and request for commercial paper funding in the amount of $8,350,000. |
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Address:
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Certificate of Obligation |
$ |
$9,600,000 |
$9,600,000 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$9,600,000 |
$9,600,000 |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$9,600,000 |
$9,600,000 |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/29/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Sandra Staine, Senior Assistant County Attorney, 10/13/2026
Department Approval by: Meg Philip, Chief Financial Officer, Universal Service 9/25/2026
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 10/14/2026
________________________________________
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: N/A
Project PeopleSoft ID: N/A
CP Series Description: N/A
OMB Financial Management contact: N/A