Specifications include, but are not limited to: The radio system and equipment utilized by the rural fire protection districts in Lancaster County in the provision of fire and rescue services is inadequate, outdated, and in need of significant improvement and upgrading. The radios currently used are analog, there are significant coverage issues causing “holes” in the coverage requiring switching channels at critical times, static, interference, lack of sufficient channels to allow continuous communication without interruption (e.g., dispatching requiring changing to other channels) and other related issues. The purpose of the project is to assess the overall radio system serving the rural fire districts and offer comprehensive, cost effective, and workable solutions to these issues so that the County and the districts can proceed with planning, implementing, and funding the necessary upgrades. The County wants to provide a radio system for the rural fire districts that: • is affordable, • provides county-wide coverage and eliminate dead spots, • is user-friendly, • provides interoperability, • is reasonably low maintenance, • provides redundancy, • is expandable, and • provides separation of radio and paging functions. The Consultant will provide not less than two workable alternate solutions, to cost out the solutions, including maintenance costs, and explore possible funding sources. The assessment and recommendations shall be provided in hard copy and electronic versions in sufficient numbers to provide the County Board and Steering Committee with copies.