根据上周提交的上诉通知，哈里斯计划请求州地方法院推翻佛罗里达州选择摩托罗拉解决方案作为供应商，以建造和运营新的P25全州执法无线电系统，哈里斯今年早些时候对此提出抗议，但未获成功
. 摩托罗拉解决方案的一位发言人也表示，谈判不会受到上诉的影响。上周，摩托罗拉公司成为佛罗里达州最大的盈利系统。
根据上周提交的上诉通知，哈里斯计划请求州地方法院推翻佛罗里达州选择摩托罗拉解决方案作为供应商，以建造和运营新的P25全州执法无线电系统（SLERS），哈里斯今年早些时候对此提出抗议，但未获成功
哈里斯向佛罗里达地区上诉法院提交了一页的上诉通知。哈里斯公司的一位发言人说，哈里斯公司计划1月10日之前提交一份正式简报，概述其案件的实质内容
哈里斯对佛罗里达州管理服务部（DMS）决定与摩托罗拉解决方案公司（Motorola Solutions）就基于全州标准的P25无线电系统进行合同谈判，该系统有望取代目前使用哈里斯专有EDACS技术的哈里斯运营的SLERS网络。从EDACS系统到P25网络的过渡计划2021年6月底完成，届时与Harris的当前合同到期
这一上诉标志着哈里斯公司第二次正式尝试阻止DMS公司为全州范围的P25系统选择摩托罗拉解决方案。哈里斯今年早些时候对这一选择提出了抗议，但行政法法官布鲁斯·卡普珀（Bruce Culpepper）发出了一项有利于摩托罗拉解决方案的建议命令。DMS采纳了卡普珀的建议，发布了最终订单，以寻求与摩托罗拉解决方案公司达成协议
哈里斯的一位发言人表示，从法律角度来看，地区法院的上诉预计不会影响DMS与摩托罗拉解决方案谈判的能力。摩托罗拉解决方案的一位发言人也表示，谈判不会受到上诉的影响。IWCE的紧急通信呼叫DMS没有及时返回本文
佛罗里达合同对摩托罗拉解决方案公司和哈里斯公司的重要性显而易见。上周，摩托罗拉公司成为佛罗里达州最大的盈利系统。与此同时，哈里斯的官员注意到目前SLERS支持整个飓风迈克尔的通信，并要求州政府重新考虑P25网络的DMS采购决定
据多个消息来源称，佛罗里达州计划中的州范围P25网络的任何交易的一个关键方面就是资金
尽管摩托罗拉解决方案的出价明显低于哈里斯提交的报价，但摩托罗拉解决方案的提案中包含了提供P25 SLERS服务15年的最高年价，即每年3265万美元，但目前SLERS的资金来源每年总计约1800万美元。到目前为止，佛罗里达州的立法者还没有确定额外的资金来源，以支付SLERS，但立法会定于3月重新召开会议
此外，摩托罗拉针对SLERS的解决方案建议使用Harris拥有的21个塔台站点，这些站点正被用于支持现有的基于EDACS的SLERS。摩托罗拉解决方案公司的提议预计，卡佩珀的裁决中，可以使用这21座被称为“传送塔”的塔，但根据卡普珀的裁决，摩托罗拉解决方案公司能否利用目前全州无线电系统的这些资产，是哈里斯公司有争议的问题
多位业内人士质疑，是否需要解决采购语言中包含的终止条款。摩托罗拉解决方案的出价意味着双方同意未来的合同中加入“为方便而终止合同”的条款，这一条款最初导致哈里斯对新的SLERS计划表示保留
根据卡普珀的裁决，“这项规定授权国务院有权以任何理由或任何理由终止SLERS合同。”。如果立法机关认定州政府不再需要或不需要SLERS一家，那么该部门如何“为了方便”取消合同。“为方便而终止合同条款将允许该部不承担任何财政义务的情况下终止其协议。”
Harris plans to ask a state district court to overturn the state of Florida’s selection of Motorola Solutions as the vendor to build and operate a new P25 statewide law enforcement radio system (SLERS) that Harris unsuccessfully protested earlier this year, according to a notice of appeal filed last week.
Harris filed the one-page notice of appeal with the Florida District Court of Appeals. Harris is scheduled to submit a formal brief outlining the substances of its case in the matter by Jan. 10, according to a Harris spokesperson.
Harris is appealing the decision by the state of Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) to enter into contract negotiations with Motorola Solutions for the statewide standard-based P25 radio system, which is expected to replace the current Harris-run SLERS network that uses proprietary EDACS technology from Harris. The transition from the EDACS system to the P25 network is scheduled to occur by the end of June 2021, when the current contract with Harris expires.
This appeal marks the second formal attempt by Harris to block DMS selection of Motorola Solutions for the statewide P25 system. Harris protested the selection earlier this year, but Administrative Law Judge Bruce Culpepper issued a recommended order in favor of Motorola Solutions. DMS adopted Culpepper’s recommendation in issuing a final order to pursue an agreement with Motorola Solutions.
From a legal standpoint, the appeal in the district court is not expected to impact the ability for DMS to negotiate with Motorola Solutions, according to a Harris spokesperson. A Motorola Solutions spokesperson also said that negotiations would not affected by the appeal. A call by to DMS was not returned in time to be included in this article.
The importance of the Florida contract to both Motorola Solutions and Harris is evident. During Motorola Solutions’ earning call last week, a company executive reference the Florida system as “the biggest statewide project” in the U.S. market today. Meanwhile, Harris officials have noted the current SLERS supported communications throughout Hurricane Michael and have asked state officials to reconsider the DMS procurement decision for the P25 network.
One key aspect of any deal for Florida’s planned statewide P25 network is funding, according to multiple sources.
Although the Motorola Solutions bid was significantly less than the one submitted by Harris, Motorola Solutions’ proposal includes a maximum annual price for providing the P25 SLERS service for 15 years at $32.65 million per year, but current SLERS funding sources total about $18 million per year. To date, Florida lawmakers have not identified a source for additional funding to pay for the SLERS, but the legislature is scheduled to reconvene in March.
In addition, the Motorola Solutions proposal for SLERS calls for the use of 21 tower sites that are owned by Harris and are being used to support the existing EDACS-based SLERS. Motorola Solutions’ proposal anticipates being able to use these 21 towers—dubbed “conveyed towers” in Culpepper’s ruling—rent free, but Motorola Solutions’ ability to leverage these assets of the current statewide radio system is a matter being disputed by Harris, according to Culpepper’s ruling.
Multiple industry sources have questioned whether the termination clause included in the procurement language will need to be addressed. The Motorola Solutions bid implies an agreement to a “Termination for Convenience” clause in a prospective contract—a stipulation that initially caused Harris to express reservations about the new SLERS initiative.
“This provision authorizes the Department the right to terminate the SLERS contract for any reason, or no reason whatsoever,” according to Culpepper’s ruling. “One example of how the Department might cancel the contract “for convenience” would be if the Legislature determined that the state no longer needed, or wanted, the SLERS. The Termination for Convenience clause would allow the Department to terminate its agreement without incurring any financial obligation.” |
