Federal Engineering Retained by Columbia County to Provide Radio Consulting Services

The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District, Oregon (Columbia 9-1-1) has retained Federal Engineering, Inc. (FE) to assess alternatives to replace the District’s existing radio system, provide independent recommendations and analyze radio vendor proposals.

Mr. Rajit Jhaver, FE Director said: “FE has a long history of supporting first responders in the State of Oregon and our consultants have an in-depth knowledge of the local environment. We understand the distinctive conditions of the region, political influences, and the geographical terrain. Our team will work with Columbia 9-1-1 to develop a customized alternatives analysis that best meets the District’s unique needs, while drawing upon insights gained from similar projects in the region, as well as our team’s proven track record of reviewing vendor proposals to assess compliance to client requirements.”

Mr. Mike Fletcher Executive Director of the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District provided additional details: “We are glad to have Federal Engineering on our team as we embark on the next chapter of our radio system. For several years, Columbia 9-1-1 has been exploring alternatives to replace its 20-year-old Motorola VHF simulcast system to best meet stakeholder and District requirements. The existing Columbia 9-1-1 system, which the District owns, is used by 12 public safety agencies with 300-400 radios. Users are experiencing problems with noise and interference. The District is considering four upgrade alternatives and is looking for an independent evaluation of those alternatives: join the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) 800 MHz system, join the Washington County Consolidated Communications Authority (WCCCA) 800 MHz system, build a stand-alone Columbia 9-1-1 VHF system, or build a stand-alone Columbia 9-1-1 700 MHz system. We are looking forward to recommendations from FE as to which alternative will best meet the needs of our system users.”