In 1999, as part of the City's year 2000 initiative, the Sungard HTE Public Safety Computing System was installed. Computer-aided Dispatch, and Police, Fire, and EMS Records Management were the primary components of the system. In 2001, Mobile Data Computing was added in the squad cars and fire apparatus. Although the existing system has served the City well for 10 years, more recent technological enhancements such as hand-held ticket writers, property and evidence bar coding, and document imaging, have become more difficult to implement. In addition, Sungard has moved forward with a Microsoft-based suite of products that take full advantage of the interface to the Microsoft Office suite, and easily allow the attachment of images, video, and other types of information.
 
In June of 2009, Sungard presented an opportunity to the City to upgrade the existing IBM legacy system to their Microsoft-based OSSI suite of products, and take advantage of an 85% discount on the software license fee. They also offered a four year payment plan to spread the cost of the data migration, implementation services, project management, and training as an upcharge on the City's budgeted annual software maintenance cost.

During this same time period, the Fire Department entered into an agreement with Southwest General Services to implement EMS wireless field reporting, and has been looking at the FireHouse Records Management System to improve fire records, and add mobile applications, such as inspections, pre-plans and incident command. Sungard is a business partner with ACS Government Solutions, the vendor for the FireHouse software. Sungard has quoted the FireHouse software as part of their proposal.

As you know, the Information Services Department has been extremely involved in the City Hall remodel for the past two to three years, and now that the remodel is complete, will have the ability to take on a project of this magnitude. The timing of this offer fits very well with the Information Services strategic plan.