The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Communication Networks has awarded Federal Engineering, Inc. (FE) a contract to study long-term funding strategies for public safety communications including the statewide Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) and 9-1-1 systems.

Mr. Ronald F. Bosco, FE’s President, described the project: “The ARMER system has brought about the participation of nearly every emergency response organization throughout the state. Predictable and sustainable funding is key to ensuring ARMER’s ongoing success as well as the success of 9-1-1 systems as new technologies such as NG9-1-1 are deployed. FE will complete the following tasks in the development of the funding strategy:

• Outline the current and long-term maintenance costs for the ARMER system for both state and local entities and current funding strategies for each.
• Outline the current and long-term maintenance costs for the NG9-1-1 systems for both state and local entities and current funding strategies for each.
• Perform assessment of current and future 9-1-1 revenue streams.
• Perform assessment of 9-1-1 revenue bonds.
• Explore possible funding alternatives.
• Develop funding recommendations.

Ms. Jackie Mines, director of emergency communication networks for Minnesota, stated: “FE has been providing technical support to the State of Minnesota since 2008. We selected Federal Engineering due to their superior proposal demonstrating in depth knowledge of our ARMER system and emerging NG9-1-1 systems. The firm is particularly sensitive to the unique, high availability communications needs of first responders due to their experience with hundreds of similar systems.”

Federal Engineering provides a wide range of design and management services in public safety and public service communications involving LTE as well as traditional VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 4.9GHz mobile radio systems. FE also assists in the design and implementation of NG9-1-1, PSAPs, ECCs, and EOCs. Since 1983, FE has completed thousands of communications projects for 40 state governments, as well as numerous local and federal government clients. Most recently, FE has expanded its service offerings to support FirstNet planning in anticipation of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.

In addition to its public sector work, Federal Engineering provides design and implementation support services for voice, data, and video networks used in the transportation, utilities, aerospace, finance, education, publishing, and computer services industries. FE’s certified independence ensures that clients receive objective, unbiased consulting services that are not influenced by any particular technology, product, vendor, or approach.