Melbourne-based Harris Corp. announced Monday it has entered into a $700 million contract with Florida to provide a statewide communications network that will link public safety, law enforcement, public schools and other state and local government agencies.
AT&T also battled for, but failed to win the seven-year contract that includes seven one-year options.
Harris proved in the last legislative session that when it comes to winning government contracts, it has powerful friends in the Legislature, particularly last year, when it had House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, who lives in Meritt Island, just across the bridge from Harris; and Ritch Workman, chair of House Rules, Calendar & Ethics, who comes from Melbourne.
The Harris contract just won, called MyFloridaNet-2 or MFN-2, connects more than 4,000 sites and provides approximately 4,700 connections via a secure statewide communications infrastructure using the Harris Trusted Enterprise Network. That network is a dedicated, private-core backbone managed and operated by Harris from its primary network operations center in Melbourne.
Harris describes its network as "a secure infrastructure that supports voice, data and video connectivity for the state’s government agencies, including county and city municipalities." It will also support other telecommunications services, including Internet access, email, and web hosting for K-12 public schools and libraries.
“By implementing this state-wide communications infrastructure, Florida’s state and local agencies will be connected so they can work together seamlessly and efficiently, whether in emergency situations or conducting routine business,” Carl D’Alessandro, president, Harris Critical Networks, said in a statement. “Harris is a Florida-based company with a vested interest here, and our mission-critical network services will support the safety and economic growth of our state while generating cost savings over the life of the program.”
The news comes just more than a week after Harris and Florida Power & Light Co. announced they were teaming up to develop an advanced digital system for FPL's operations throughout the Sunshine State.
Harris is also positioning itself to renew one of the most lucrative contracts in state government, the contract for police radios across the state. Harris already manages the current SLERS system, which uses now outdated technology (analog) called EDACS. The new system will be P25 (digital).
To the winning bidder, the new contract will be worth some $500 million over a 10- to 15-year period. It is one of the state's largest and most valuable. So it certainly is understandable that Harris, the current vendor -- with its contract ending in 2021 -- wants to cut out any competition for a prize like SLERS (Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System).
Its main competitor for the SLERS contract, Motorola Corp., has worked hard to keep the procurement process on track.
SLERS is likely to surface again in the 2017 Legislative Session.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
