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CONSENT <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: � Honorable Board of County Commissioners <br />THROUGH: Joseph A. Baird, County Administrator <br />FROM: John King, Director <br />Department of Emerge c Ser - es <br />DATE: April 1, 2016 <br />SUBJECT: Sole Source Purchase and Replacement of E911 Call -Taking Recorder Servers <br />It is respectfully requested that the information contained herein be given formal consideration by the <br />Board of County Commissioners at the next scheduled meeting. <br />i <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS: <br />Staff is recommending replacing the five (5) computer servers used for E911 voice recording. The <br />existing servers operate on Windows Server 2003 software, and Microsoft has announced they will <br />no longer provide software fixes and technical support for this outdated product. This leaves our <br />equipment exposed to an elevated risk of cybersecurity (virus) dangers and without a backup <br />recorder in the event of failure. <br />Layered on top of the Windows server operating software is proprietary voice recording software <br />(Higher Ground) that stores time -stamped voice data from E911 calls. Like Microsoft, the Higher <br />Ground representatives have also recommended immediate migration to replacement servers, as the <br />information contained in the voice recordings is sensitive data and frequently subpoenaed for <br />investigations and court evidence. The County's Computer Services Division also agrees with the <br />urgency to upgrade the servers. <br />Indian River County has voice recorders at four (4) sites: Vero Beach, Sebastian, Sheriff's Office, <br />Emergency Operations Center and one (1) master server. Staff considered purchasing <br />remanufactured servers, but the Acting State 911 Coordinator recommended against this based on <br />cost and concerns that used equipment has a limited warranty and will require replacement in a few <br />years. The Board will recall, all E911 upgrades fully or partially funded with 911 Surcharge Fees <br />must receive approval from the state. <br />The scope of work for this project includes purchasing five (5) newly configured computer servers, <br />reloading the county -owned Higher Ground software (which is a cost savings), migrating the stored <br />data, reintegrate the new servers with the County's Call -Taking consoles, and removing the old <br />equipment. Given the specialized professional services necessary to make this upgrade, staff <br />58 <br />