Calif. county taps Apptis, Smartlink for interoperable radio

Apptis Inc. and Smartlink Radio Network Inc. won a $3 million contract from Solano County, Calif., for an interoperable public safety radio system.

Apptis, which will lead the project, will deploy the SmartLink I-Network platform to increase capacity and coverage of the multichannel, VHF-band system that the county's sheriff, fire and emergency management departments use.

The system is to provide countywide interoperability and roaming, not only for first responders but also for more than a half-dozen cities within the county. Once the system is installed, agencies will be able to communicate with each other on emergency calls originating from either dispatch or field personnel. Federal, state and regional agencies also will have countywide, real-time communications access through the system.

The new system is in keeping with interoperable communications standards and technology set forth for the Greater San Francisco area as well as for California and the U.S. Homeland Security Department.

Solano County, in the East San Francisco Bay Area region, has a population of 412,000 and includes the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville and Vallejo.

Apptis of Chantilly, Va., has about 1,400 employees and annual sales of more than $600 million. The company ranks No. 33 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list of federal prime contractors.