The Mission-Critical Resource Center

Developing an RFP for Your Radio System Upgrade or Replacement

In Summary:

• A radio system upgrade or replacement project does not need to be daunting or overwhelming
• Obtaining a new system through the request for proposals (RFP) process allows agencies to select a best-of-breed solution, ultimately yielding better results
• Any RFP should have the same standard elements, but not customizing your RFP to your project could result in proposals for unnecessary work, extra costs and, ultimately, a project that does not meet goals or expectations

On-Demand Webinar: Strategic Planning for Public Safety Agencies

In today’s evolving emergency communications environment, public safety agencies are often expected to do more with fewer resources–smaller budgets and fewer people. This reality means that strategic planning, and determining how best to leverage the available resources, is more crucial than ever before. In this webinar, MCP subject-matter experts Chris Kelly and Bonnie Maney discuss the benefits of strategic planning for public safety agencies and different approaches to development.

MCP's 2020 Public Safety Predictions Infographic

Mission Critical Partners surveyed some our subject-matter experts to hear their predictions regarding what will public safety trends will shape the next decade and the public safety industry outlook. Today's public safety landscape is evolving more quickly than ever before. To help illustrate what's coming, as well as where we believe the industry is headed this year, we put together an infographic fueled by statistics on what's substantially impacting the industry, as well as where we believe its headed. See why the experts believe that actionable data, cloud-based technology deployments and new approaches to workforce management will be priorities.

On-Demand Webinar: The 10 Trends That Will Impact Public Safety

As we enter a new decade of public safety, what trends will shape the next ten years of public safety communications, and the year ahead? In our first webinar of 2020 we highlighted emerging technologies and trends to help public safety leaders make more informed decisions for this year and beyond. These industry trends cannot be ignored. 

The Prescription for Thwarting Public Safety Cyberattacks

In Summary:

• The FBI advises that it is no longer a question of if, but rather when, any individual public safety communications network is going to be attacked.
• There is a lot that public safety agencies can do on their own to increase the difficulty of hacking their networks and lessening the effects of cyberattacks.
• This whitepaper outlines a six-step treatment regimen, and discusses continuity-of-operations and disaster recovery.

A lot can go wrong with public safety communications networks from a cybersecurity perspective. 

NCT9-1-1 Revolutionizes 9-1-1 Service and Delivery with MCP's Guidance

In Summary: 

• NCT9-1-1 is responsible for 43 PSAPs in 13 counties surrounding the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. They had a vision of leading the 9-1-1 sector with implementation of an Next Generation 9-1-1 system (NG9-1-1) and needed support building a roadmap to get there.
• Together, NCT9-1-1 and MCP created a strategic NG9-1-1 Master Plan that would enable a complete transition to NG9-1-1 while evolving the organization's entire program.
• NCT9-1-1 has made significant progress toward realizing the full benefits of NG9-1-1 technology all while enhancing its organizational culture.

On-Demand Webinar: The Aging PSAP - Making the Case for a New Facility

Public safety answering points (PSAPs) and emergency operations centers (EOCs) must provide security and peace of mind for the communities and first responders they serve. Unfortunately, many of today’s mission-critical facilities are aging, unable to accommodate the needs of growing communities and outfitted with technology that is reaching end-of-life. With limited budgets and resources, how do agencies and public safety leaders make the case for a facility upgrade?

On-Demand Webinar: Integrating Broadband & NG911 Into ECCs

As public safety continues to move toward the implementation of next generation 911 (NG911) and public safety broadband networks, like FirstNet from AT&T, agencies need to seriously consider the implications of these new technologies for the emergency communications center (ECC). More importantly, agencies need to understand how the two will work together and why interoperability of these technologies is crucial to successfully improving emergency response.

This on-demand webinar discusses how public safety broadband networks and NG911 need to work together and the operational impact these technologies will have on the ECC.

Improving Emergency Response & Employee Wellness in Iredell County

In Summary:

• Emergency services in Iredell County, N.C., were faced with disparate, small facilities, aging technology and less-than-ideal working conditions.
• To overcome these challenges, the County made the decision to pursue a new facility that would house the emergency communications center, Emergency Management/Fire Services department, Iredell County Emergency Medical Services and the the Statesville EMS base under one roof, in a state-of-the-art facility.
• Today, the new Iredell County Emergency Communications Center is part of a larger complex that houses additional county agencies and departments, allowing for increased collaboration within public safety and the County at large. The new facility also offers improved working conditions for more than 200 public safety employees.

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On-Demand Webinar: How to Prepare for Florida House Bill 441

On July 1, new legislation went into effect in the state of Florida that has major implications for public safety agencies. The legislation — HB 441 — introduces stringent requirements for public safety answering points (PSAPs) relating to radio and E911 communications.

The Uses Continue to Emerge: Public Safety Drones and Considerations

In Summary:

• Public safety agencies are adopting drones at increasing rates to enhance emergency response operations.
• However, many public safety agencies run into roadblocks in leveraging this technology because public safety use cases generally are not considered in most state legislatures.
• This whitepaper discusses what agencies should consider as they stand up their drone programs.

In this whitepaper we explore the uses cases, the potential legal impacts of using drones, and the options public safety agencies should consider when implementing a drones program.

The Case for Push-to-Talk in Public Safety

In Summary:

• First responders have long depended on traditional land mobile radio (LMR) systems that feature public safety-grade radios and infrastructure.
• While commercial networks are typically not ideal for public safety use, as they can become overloaded during an emergency, commercial push-to-talk (PTT) technology could benefit public safety.

In this whitepaper we explore the pros and cons of commercial PTT technology for public safety, including the improvements to commercial PTT capabilities and the cost-efficiencies the technology offers for agencies.