Post by Logan on Apr 17, 2016 4:17:58 GMT -6
Fight over potential $1 billion police radio contract affected budget negotiations
A recent skirmish between two high-powered technology companies over a $7 million state contract — one that delayed negotiations on the entire state budget — was a prelude to a much bigger battle for a potential $1 billion deal to upgrade a radio system for law enforcement agencies statewide.
During this year’s session of the Legislature, the House insisted on including in the state budget $7 million to buy police radios from Harris Corp., the telecommunications company that has a contract through 2021 to operate and maintain the radio system. Senate leaders resisted, but the House eventually allocated the money from a discretionary fund its leaders control.
At the same time, lobbyists for both sides worked behind the scenes to influence language being added to the budget to determine how the competitive bid process will unfold in the coming months. Motorola Solutions Inc., Harris’ biggest competitor, wanted wording it believed would level the playing field and stop Harris from unfairly using its power as an incumbent.
Eventually, the police radio system issues became so contentious that legislators negotiating the state’s $82 billion budget had to set everything else aside until an agreement was ironed out.
Read more: jacksonville.com/news/florida/2016-04-16/story/fight-over-potential-1-billion-police-radio-contract-affected-budget#
A recent skirmish between two high-powered technology companies over a $7 million state contract — one that delayed negotiations on the entire state budget — was a prelude to a much bigger battle for a potential $1 billion deal to upgrade a radio system for law enforcement agencies statewide.
During this year’s session of the Legislature, the House insisted on including in the state budget $7 million to buy police radios from Harris Corp., the telecommunications company that has a contract through 2021 to operate and maintain the radio system. Senate leaders resisted, but the House eventually allocated the money from a discretionary fund its leaders control.
At the same time, lobbyists for both sides worked behind the scenes to influence language being added to the budget to determine how the competitive bid process will unfold in the coming months. Motorola Solutions Inc., Harris’ biggest competitor, wanted wording it believed would level the playing field and stop Harris from unfairly using its power as an incumbent.
Eventually, the police radio system issues became so contentious that legislators negotiating the state’s $82 billion budget had to set everything else aside until an agreement was ironed out.
Read more: jacksonville.com/news/florida/2016-04-16/story/fight-over-potential-1-billion-police-radio-contract-affected-budget#