Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 260295

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File Number: 260295

File Type: Resolution

Status: Amended

Version: 0

Reference:

Control: County Commission

File Name: MOTOROLA RADIOS - MOD

Introduced: 2/19/2026

Requester: Strategic Procurement

Cost:

Final Action:

Agenda Date: 6/16/2026

Agenda Item Number: 8P1

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,320,728.00 FOR A TOTAL MODIFIED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $121,320,728.00 FOR CONTRACT NO. D-10253, MOTOROLA PUBLIC SAFETY RADIOS AND CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR MULTIPLE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY CANCELLATION OR EXTENSIONS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-8.1 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA AND IMPLEMENTING ORDER 3-38

Indexes:

NONE

Sponsors:	Danielle Cohen Higgins, Prime Sponsor
	Roberto J. Gonzalez, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	6/16/2026	8P1	Amended
REPORT:	Commissioner Cohen Higgins moved to adopt the foregoing proposed resolution, as amended. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Regalado, and upon being put to a vote, passed by 12-0 (Senator Garcia was absent). The amended version of this resolution will be assigned Resolution No. R-539-26.

Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee	3/11/2026	3H	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
REPORT:	Senator Garcia requested confirmation that the total new amount of $121 million for the modified contract represented additional expenditure authority rather than an increase to the contract, and asked that the cost of the radios and the issue of interoperability between radio systems be addressed on the record. Dr. Edwards confirmed that the requested amount was an additional allocation to an existing contract for a system already in place, and stated that there would be no changes affecting interoperability between radio systems. Senator Garcia asked Chief Raied Jadallah about the operability and longevity of the system and whether any issues would arise if the radio provider were changed in the future. Chief Jadallah noted that the MDFRD had used its Motorola radios for more than 20 years and that they remained operable. He stated that he did not have specific information on any risk associated with relying on a single vendor, noting only that the department had conducted market research in the past and remained satisfied with the Motorola system. Commissioner Gonzalez asked whether the corrections equipment was approximately 17 years old and what the typical life cycle was for the radios. Ms. Green noted that the life cycle of the radios was seven years and that the department's current L3Harris equipment had been in use for 17 years. Commissioner Gonzalez stated that he had held conversations with several entities, including the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the Sheriff's Office, MDFRD, and the fire union, regarding the connectivity of the radio systems, and asked how many municipalities used Motorola radios. Dr. Edwards identified the following entities as using Motorola radios: the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, City of Miami, Hialeah, Homestead, Coral Gables, Bay Harbor, Surfside, Miami Shores, North Miami Beach, Florida International University, Sweetwater, Doral, South Miami, West Miami, Miami Gardens, Hialeah Gardens, Miccosukee, Key Biscayne, and Pinecrest. She added that her team was working to maintain a standard communications protocol that would allow seamless connectivity between different devices with limited challenges, and explained that the item requested additional allocation to continue the technology and extend it to additional departments so that their equipment could be upgraded. Commissioner Gonzalez asked whether other counties were using Motorola equipment, and Dr. Edwards confirmed that they were. He further confirmed that the item extended beyond the Corrections Department to include dispatch and a framework used by the Fire Rescue Department, and stated that it was important for all parties to operate consistently. Commissioner Cohen Higgins recalled that the contract had been approved in 2022 in the amount of $165 million, with a portion allocated to the Sheriff's Office, and questioned why it had taken from 2022 to 2026 for the Fire Rescue Department and Corrections to receive updated radios under a contract that had already been approved. Ms. Uppal noted that the Fire Rescue Department had already begun purchasing its radios under the approved contract. She explained that Corrections had identified its need more recently and, following adoption of the budget, now had the funding to purchase its radios under the contract. Commissioner Cohen Higgins expressed confusion, noting that Fire Chief Jadallah had stated that the Fire Rescue Department needed new radios. Ms. Uppal clarified that the Fire Rescue Department was already using the Motorola system and was likely purchasing additional services rather than new radios. Fire Chief Jadallah explained that the additional allocation covered units going into service to replace equipment on new apparatus, as well as radios damaged or lost on incidents, and confirmed that every firefighter was currently outfitted with the new Motorola APX NEXT radio. He further clarified that the references to older radios pertained to Corrections and that the Fire Rescue Department did not have 17-year-old radios. Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked whether Corrections was only now obtaining new radios under the 2022 contract. Ms. Green confirmed that Corrections had not yet received replacement radios and remained in need of them. Commissioner Cohen Higgins narrowed her question to ask why Corrections had to wait four years when the Fire Rescue Department and the Sheriff's Office had already received their radios under the 2022 contract. Ms. Green stated that she was uncertain of the reason, noting that she had served as director since November 2023 and that the radio replacement had been one of her priority efficiency projects since her appointment. Mr. Palmer explained that the Fire Rescue Department had received its radios first and the Sheriff's Office second, with Corrections next in line, and that the department had completed a 12-month pilot program to confirm the units functioned within its infrastructure before proceeding. Commissioner Cohen Higgins stated, in support of Ms. Green, that Corrections should have received its radios well before the four-year period reflected, and thanked her for her patience. Commissioner Cohen Higgins noted that a representative of L3Harris had stated during public comment that the radios cost $8,000 per unit and requested clarification. Mr. Palmer stated that the cost was $6,400 per unit. Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked whether $6,400 was the industry standard, and Mr. Palmer responded that he believed the figure was fair but was not certain whether it represented an industry standard. Commissioner Cohen Higgins asked Ms. Uppal whether the cost per radio had been evaluated and whether she was confident that $6,400 per unit was a competitive rate. Ms. Uppal noted that the functionality of the radio was a factor and that an extensive study had been conducted at the time of the original contract comparing Motorola's functionality against other providers, including L3Harris, with Motorola best meeting the needs of the departments, particularly for large-scale events. She offered to provide a comparison of the rates Motorola had charged other entities before the matter reached the Board, and stated that she considered the pricing fair. Commissioner Cohen Higgins welcomed the offer and requested to see what other municipal governments of similar size paid for comparable equipment. She noted the concern regarding dependence on a single vendor and asked whether Corrections or the administration had any concern about using one provider for all departments. Dr. Edwards stated that she had no such concern and expressed confidence that the proposal was the best solution for the County, citing standardization, competitive pricing, and the ability to act quickly, and noted that the request was for additional allocation on a contract that had already been approved. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis stated that standardization was beneficial when needed but questioned whether it was necessary in this case. She clarified that she understood the Fire Rescue Department's need and that the Sheriff's Office, which had since separated from County government, was not part of the contract. She raised a pricing discrepancy, noting that dividing the Corrections Department's $21.9 million allocation by the 2,800 radios being purchased resulted in approximately $7,800 per unit, consistent with the figure she had been given during the briefing, and asked staff to reconcile that with the $6,400 per unit figure stated on the record. Mr. Palmer referenced a figure of $18.1 million divided by 2,800 units. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis noted that the item stated $21.9 million for the purchase of 2,800 radios by the Corrections Department. Ms. Uppal explained that Corrections was purchasing two models of radio at different prices, along with ancillary items such as chargers, batteries, and microphones, and additional services and hardware, and that the various line items and quantities together comprised the total amount. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis asked what the Corrections radios were used for. Ms. Green noted that the radios were used to communicate throughout the department's facilities and bureaus and for external transports. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis asked whether other radios could accomplish the same purpose at a lower cost. Ms. Green stated that Corrections required the same equipment because the department also responded to emergencies and operated outside its facilities, including external transports and court appearances in the community. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis asked Mr. Olazabal about the use of the radios in the CITD. Mr. Olazabal explained that his department's allocation served two purposes. As the County's radio service provider for other municipalities, the department was proactively securing inventory in anticipation of those municipalities transitioning to new radio systems. The remaining portion of the allocation was for the County's E911 system, which operated on Motorola-branded technology that was separate from the radio system. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis requested, together with Commissioner Cohen Higgins, that staff determine whether other radios could meet the needs of the Communications, Information and Technology Department and Corrections before the matter reached the Board. Mr. Olazabal noted that the department already used L3Harris radios across the County and provided them to other departments. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis asked whether those radios were sufficient for the needs of the municipalities and departments. Mr. Olazabal stated that his department did not determine the needs of individual departments such as Corrections and the Fire Rescue Department, that the radios it provided across the County served a different, non-public-safety need, and that the department was brand agnostic, with its responsibility being to ensure that any radio selected was compatible with the system. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis stated that the County needed to be proactive in identifying where standardization was necessary in order to avoid unnecessary spending. Commissioner Cohen Higgins stated that she shared those concerns and noted that the contract was set to expire in August 2027. She emphasized the importance of a competitive process to obtain the best and lowest cost, given the demands on general fund dollars, and asked whether there had been any determination regarding whether the option to renew the Motorola contract would be exercised at expiration. Dr. Edwards stated that no determination had been made and that the procurement teams and departments had been directed to analyze each contract, including those not yet up for renewal, to ensure the most competitive pricing. She noted that she had asked the team to begin analyzing the County's best interest when the matter came to her. Commissioner Cohen Higgins stated that she looked forward to meeting with Motorola before the final hearing so the company could demonstrate that the price per radio was the best and lowest available. Commissioner Gonzalez thanked the administration and staff and asked Mr. Palmer to clarify, from a public safety standpoint, why a standardized technology was necessary across the departments and what would occur if connectivity were not available. Mr. Palmer stated that interoperability of radios was paramount during any critical incident and that an inability to communicate among agencies would create delays that could result in injuries. He noted that radios of other brands used for non-public-safety functions such as transit, public works, and water and sewer were not a concern, but that public safety agencies should operate on the same platform to ensure interoperability. Commissioner Gonzalez asked what features differentiated the Motorola radios. Mr. Palmer noted that the Motorola radios allowed users to locate other Motorola radios by GPS and to transmit documents, and that officers could communicate by screen without broadcasting over the radio, which increased officer safety. He acknowledged that a different model could provide similar capability but stated that the Motorola radios provided it at present. Commissioner Gonzalez stated that he wished to be fully briefed and thanked staff. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis clarified that the Sheriff's Office and the Fire Rescue Department needed the radios and asked whether the Motorola radios could communicate with L3Harris radios. Mr. Palmer stated that different radio sets could communicate. Mr. Olazabal added that the radios used a communications protocol known as P25, an industry-standard protocol that allowed different radios to communicate, so that agencies did not need identical radios to communicate with one another. Vice Chairwoman Milian Orbis stated that, following the prior budget year, the Board intended to treat each item with a focus on fiscal responsibility. Chairwoman Lopez asked whether all of the radios were connected to the statewide network, noting the importance of interoperability during a statewide emergency and that a subscription to the network was required. Mr. Olazabal noted that a statewide network of mutual aid channels existed and that the radios were connected to it, but stated that he would need to confirm whether every radio was connected and programmed. Dr. Edwards stated that she had confirmed with the Fire Rescue Department that the County's law enforcement radios were connected to the network, as required. There being no further questions, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution, as presented.

County Attorney	2/20/2026		Assigned	Michael B. Valdes		2/24/2026

Arnold Palmer	2/19/2026		Assigned	Office of Agenda Coordination	2/19/2026	2/19/2026

Office of Agenda Coordination	2/19/2026		Assigned	County Attorney	4/21/2026
REPORT:	SPD - No sponsor - pending March cmte -No county attorney assigned - no attachments - pgs 7

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,320,728.00 FOR A TOTAL MODIFIED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $121,320,728.00 FOR CONTRACT NO. D-10253, MOTOROLA PUBLIC SAFETY RADIOS AND CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR MULTIPLE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY CANCELLATION OR EXTENSIONS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-8.1 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA AND IMPLEMENTING ORDER 3-38

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:

Section 1. This Board authorizes additional expenditure authority in the amount of $61,320,728.00 for a total modified contract amount of $121,320,728.00 for Contract No. D-10253, Motorola Public Safety Radios and Capital Infrastructure, for multiple County departments.

Section 2. This Board authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to exercise all provisions of the contract, including any cancellation or extensions, pursuant to section 2-8.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida and Implementing Order 3-38. A copy of the contract document is on file with and available upon request from the Strategic Procurement Department.

HEADER
Date:
To: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor

Subject: Request for Additional Expenditure Authority to Contract for Motorola Public Safety Radios and Capital Infrastructure

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Summary
This item is requesting additional expenditure authority under the existing contract used by multiple County departments to continue purchasing Motorola radio equipment, products, maintenance and support services. The requested increase supports critical communications infrastructure upgrades for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR), and Communications, Information and Technology Department (CITD). This contract provides County departments with a reliable procurement vehicle for mission-critical radio equipment, services, and infrastructure upgrades essential to maintain reliable, interoperable communications across emergency response and public safety operations, ensuring Miami-Dade County remains prepared for routine and disaster scenarios.

MDCR�s current radio fleet is in dire need of replacement, as it is approaching 17 years of use, well beyond its useful life of seven years. MDCR, in consultation with CITD and given that all of the County�s public safety departments (including the Miami-Dade Sheriff�s Office and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue) are utilizing Motorola radios, has determined that it is in the best interest of the County to move forward with a unified communications solution. Standardization and economies of scale associated with utilizing a single product/vendor is also anticipated to improve product support, as well as reduce costs and potential downtime associated with repairs, warranties, and replacement parts.

Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve additional expenditure authority in the amount of $61,320,728 for Contract No. D-10253, Motorola Public Safety Radios and Capital Infrastructure, for multiple County departments.

Background
This contract was established by the Board via Resolution No. R-682-22 in the amount of $165,000,000 to fund the initial five-year term and one, five-year option to renew. Of this amount, $83,900,000 was for MDSO. Subsequently, the contract was modified under delegated authority for a total of $10,648,555. Of this amount, $648,555 was to support the Miami-Dade Sheriff�s Office purchase of the Vigilant license plate recognition software module, while $10,000,000 was allocated to support operational needs across various County departments, including MDFR, MDCR, CITD, and Department of Emergency Management (DEM).

MDCR requires replacement of approximately 2,800 aging radios that have exceeded their useful life and can jeopardize officer safety and facility operations. Reliable radio communications are essential during inmate disturbances and emergency incidents where immediate coordination and situational awareness are critical. The department�s current radio fleet is almost 17 years old, significantly exceeding the lifecycle for public safety communications equipment. MDCR is requesting the allocation to replace the 2,800 end-of-life L3Harris radios with modern Motorola smart radios. The last major purchase occurred in 2010, and remaining spare units are heavily utilized and in poor condition. Continued reliance on this aging equipment presents a substantial risk to communications reliability, directly impacting officer safety and the continuity of secure facility operations.

MDFR is requesting additional expenditure authority to support critical communications infrastructure and public safety operations, as detailed below:

� $17,200,000 to support phases one and two of the Miami-Dade County Integrated Command and Communications Center (IC3), which serves as a centralized hub for emergency response and disaster management during critical events or natural disasters. Continued investment is required to support the expansion of IC3 and sustain APX NEXT radio operations.
� $6,706,866 to support 24/7 communications system operations, including routine maintenance, emergency repairs, monitoring, backup power checks, software updates, and on-site technical response.
� $2,186,039 to support ongoing maintenance and support services for Motorola APX NEXT radios and Visilink. The Motorola APX NEXT radios are advanced, mission-critical communication devices designed specifically for public safety professionals, while Visilink�s real-time video capabilities are needed to enhance situational awareness and operational coordination.
� $700,000 to purchase equipment to support MDFR and its emergency response divisions, including mobile radios for new vehicles and other special equipment.
� $127,823 to support WAVE subscription costs for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. This subscription provides reliable communication for public safety departments both inside and outside the coverage of traditional land mobile radio systems.

CITD is requesting additional expenditure authority to support the continued acquisition of portable radios, required hardware refreshes, and redundancy enhancements essential to maintaining the reliability and resiliency of the Premier One Computer-Aided Dispatch system, which is critical to uninterrupted public safety communications and emergency response operations. CITD functions as a centralized resource for County departments, constitutional offices, and various state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies to obtain new or replacement radios as operational needs arise and oversees the procurement of radio equipment, maintenance, and support services. Accordingly, CITD develops procurement forecasts based on historical utilization and estimated requirements submitted by participating agencies to ensure continuity of operations, system availability, and readiness during emergency and high-demand events.

Scope
The impact of this item is countywide in nature.

Delegated Authority
The County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee will have the authority to exercise all provisions of the contract, including any cancellation or extensions, pursuant to Section 2-8.1 of the County Code and Implementing Order 3-38). Authority to exercise the first five-year option to renew (OTR) was granted via Resolution No. R-682-22. The remaining two, five-year OTRs will be presented to the Board for approval.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The contract expires on August 3, 2027, and has an existing cumulative allocation of $60,000,000. If this request is approved, the contract will have a modified cumulative allocation of $121,320,728. The requested increase in expenditure authority is based on the departments� anticipated contract utilization.

Department Existing Cumulative Allocation Additional Allocation Requested Modified Cumulative Allocation Funding Source Budgeted* Contract Manager
CITD $2,500,000 $12,500,000 $15,000,000 Internal Service Funds FY25-26 Proposed Budget, Volume 3, Communications, Information and Technology, Page 276, Other Operating Albert Falcon
MDFR $54,675,000 $26,920,728 $81,595,728 Fire District / General Fund / Financing Proceeds FY 25-26 Proposed Budget, Future Financing under Capital Program 2000001460 Marianela Betancourt
MDCR $2,600,000 $21,900,000 $24,500,000 Capital Funds FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Volume II, Corrections and Rehabilitation, Page 54, Capital Projects - Infrastructure Improvements, Program 2000005115 Alessandra Linares
DEM $225,000 $0 $225,000 General Fund FY 25-26 Proposed Budget, Volume 2, Page 64, Contractual Services Alejandro Fernandez
Total $60,000,000 $61,320,728 $121,320,728
*The Adopted Budget Book was not finalized at the time this item was drafted. Therefore, the budget information
above is based on the Proposed Budget Book. This contract was established by the Board via Resolution No. R-682-22 with an allocation of $133,900,000 for the initial five-year term. Under delegated authority, MDSO allocation was subsequently increased by $648,555. MDSO�s allocation of $84,548,555 was since removed and transferred to MDSO�s system.

Track Record/Monitor
Natalya Vasilyeva of the Strategic Procurement Department (SPD) is the Division Director.

Awarded Vendor
Vendor Principal Address Local Address Principal
Motorola Solutions, Inc. 500 West Monroe Street Chicago, IL None Gregory Q. Brown

Due Diligence
Pursuant to Resolution No. R-187-12, due diligence was conducted in accordance with SPD�s Procurement Guidelines to determine vendor responsibility, including verifying corporate status and that there are no performance and compliance issues through various vendor responsibility lists and a keyword internet search. The lists that were referenced included convicted vendors, debarred vendors, delinquent contractors, suspended vendors, and federal excluded parties. As part of the due diligence process, staff reviewed 3 open cases for Motorola Solutions Inc. There were no adverse findings that may impact the vendor�s ability to perform on County contracts.

Applicability of Ordinances and Contract Measures
� The two percent User Access Program applies where permitted by funding source.
� The Small Business Enterprise measures and Local Preference do not apply.
� The Living Wage Ordinance does not apply.

______________________
Arnold Palmer
Chief of Public Safety