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: $9,000,000.00
Total Estimated Project Cost: $11,350,000 (FY2026 -2027)
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of the Final Investment Memo for the Radio Replacement and Purchase Program 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.
end
Project Description:
This initiative is part of an ongoing lifecycle management program to replace and procure radio equipment used by Harris County agencies. The Harris County Radio Replacement and Purchase Program involves a systematic hardware refresh of aging radio subscriber units to ensure continued compatibility and reliability within the County’s communications infrastructure. Radios typically have an optimal service life of seven years, after which their performance and reliability begin to decline.
By proactively replacing outdated units and purchasing new ones as needed, the program helps prevent service disruptions, ensures interoperability across departments, and reduces maintenance and support costs associated with legacy equipment. This approach supports uninterrupted communication for public safety personnel and other County agencies that rely on dependable radio systems for daily operations and emergency response.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
618 Total Mobile Radio Replacements- (88) Non - LE Mobiles, (530) LE Mobiles 931 Total Portable Radio Replacements - (186) Non-LE Portables, (745) LE Portables |
$8,150,000 |
9/30/2027 |
|
HCUS Project Support - (Project Manager) |
$200,000 |
9/30/2027 |
|
Contingency |
$1,000,000 |
|
|
FY26 Total Authorization |
$9,350,000 |
- |
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Unencumbered existing project balance to carry into FY26 |
($350,000) |
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FY26 Incremental Authorization |
$9,000,000 |
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Justification & Alternatives:
The County is working to replace outdated radio equipment that exceeds the asset management lifecycle. This project is critical because radios are a primary communication lifeline for first responders. This mix of differently aged radios with non-standardized features and models increases the cost of programming and maintenance support and makes training more complex. The newer radios purchased through this project will be easier to maintain as they will be within their intended asset life. Some of the benefits of the new radios include:
× Users will be able to take advantage of up-to-date technology on the network.
× Communication will be more reliable.
× Radios will be able to perform within the design parameters.
A unified purchasing approach for all new radio assets ensures that departments are able provide life-saving missions critical to their personnel. Universal Services uses a single funding source for this project that allows for better purchasing power with the selected vendors, quicker radio deployment, and better inventory lifecycle management.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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$- |
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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): 15
Previous Court Action:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
8/23/2022 |
22-4956 |
22-4956 Request for FY23 additional authorization of $4,630,000 |
|
10/11/2022 |
22-6321 |
[No Action] Request for approval of commercial paper funding for $4,630,000 |
|
10/18/2023 |
22-6610 |
Request for approval of commercial paper funding for $4,630,000 |
|
07/18/2023 |
23-3950 |
Request for FY24 Additional Authorization of $6,471731 |
Address:
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
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Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Commercial Paper |
$ |
$8,350,000 |
$8,350,000 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$8,350,000 |
$8,350,000 |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$8,350,000 |
$8,350,000 |
$ |
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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: 2/26/2026
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: Paige Abernathy, Assistant County Attorney, 2/16/2026
Department Approval by: Heather Merkel, Budget Director, Universal Services 3/10/2026
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 2/16/2026
________________________________________
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: Universal Services
Project PeopleSoft ID: NI025
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D-2 can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the LE - Radio Replacement project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
Note: Commercial Paper is issued in increments of $5,000 and the excess is not available to be spent by the department.
OMB Financial Management contact: Fahad Gulzar, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget