HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Westnet Alerting SystemCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO :
FROM :
Kenneth Robertson, Director
Department of Purchasing
Maurice L emP, Chief
Department of Fire -Rescue
May 23, 2011
DATE:
Request Sole Source finding;
SUBJECT : Westnet Alerting System;
Fire -Rescue
REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES:
FILE :
This memorandum serves to request that you approve a finding that Westnet, Inc., located at 16581 Burke
Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, is the sole source provider for a First -In Fire Station Alerting System
utilized by the Department of Fire -Rescue and originally acquired from Westnet, Inc.
Westnet as the inventor, manufacturer and sole source provider of First -In Fire Station Alarm Systems,
holds numerous patent and registered intellectual property rights for this product. Westnet does not have
any authorized dealers or distributors authorized to sell, service or repair products in the State of Florida.
Pursuant to Resolution No. 04-0631, adopted on September 23, 2004, the City of Miami proceeded with
the purchase and installation of Westnet's First -In Fire Station Alerting System citywide for all its fire
stations.
Cth
e City's First -In Alerting Systems are currently under an extended warranty/maintenance plan with
estnet. In order to preserve the extended warranty/maintenance coverage, Westnet requires that it be
e only entity to provide, repair and maintain the First -In Alerting Systems equipment in the City of
Miami.
IThe Westnet First -In Fire Station Alerting System is unique in that the system is the only system on the
market with a Dorm Remote. The Dorm Remote provides programmable, company -specific bedside
alerting that includes energy efficient LED lighting that has proven to minimize emergency response time
and enhanced the firefighters' safe response within the fire station by means of a low level lighting
lsystem, which reduces eyestrain and night blindness while permitting safe journey to the response
1 vehicle. The Dorm Remote also provides firefighters with the ability to program his or her specific
assignment information from the front panel of the Dorm Remote, so that only firefighters needed on the
} call are alerted.
Another unique feature to the First -In Alerting System is a device that analyzes the level of audio in the
apparatus bays before the station is alerted. This device solves a long-standing problem of areas with
fluctuating ambient noise by automatically adjusting its volume level so that the firefighters can clearly
hear the incoming message from the Dispatch Center. This alert system further optimizes the response
scenario by using audio and visual cues, which decrease reaction time with a corresponding decrease in
response time.
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Furthermore, an important and distinctive feature of the First -In Fire Station Alerting System is a
reduction in on -scene response time. Westnet is linked to the Computer Aided Dispatch ("CAD")
System, which automatically notifies the fire stations providing firefighters with important incident
information, such as which vehicles are needed for the call and what type of call it is, for example,
a structure fire, cardiac arrest, etc. The timesaving of the Westnet system is significant in that automatic
notification eliminates any potential communication delays, and/or errors, thus, streamlining the method
of deploying firefighters, apparatus and thereby shortening response time.
Approved:
elf 9nneth Robertson, Purchasing Director
MLK/RKD/VA/mtm
Date:
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