Interoperable Communications Investments Drive $1.2B in 2008 State & Local Public Safety Opportunities

Jan. 2, 2008

RESTON, Va., Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles County Regional Interoperable Communications System (RICS) leads a diverse list of major Justice/Public Safety and Homeland Security IT contracts planned by states and localities in 2008, according to a new report released by INPUT, the authority on government business. The ten opportunities examined represent nearly $1.2 billion in total spending -- an amount that is buoyed by the significant federal grant money available to state and local law enforcement agencies. Los Angeles County's RICS program represents half of the total. Four of INPUT's top ten opportunities are related to countywide or statewide interoperable communications.

"Interoperability is one of the rare national initiatives where the federal government is backing up its directives to the states and localities with real money," said Jeff Webster , analyst, justice/public safety and homeland security at INPUT. "It's no surprise that a recent report by the Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council found that developing interoperable communications is the top homeland security priority in the states. Major metropolitan areas, like Los Angeles , are the best places for vendors to prove they can deliver inter-jurisdictional voice and data interoperability among all types of first responders. INPUT expects to see a steady stream of opportunities like these over the next three to five years."

Rounding out the list of homeland security-related opportunities is the Virginia State Police's Virginia Intelligence Management System (VIMS). IT opportunities related to intelligence fusion have been the subject of much speculation. Major intelligence fusion IT implementations have been underway in Illinois and Massachusetts. Given rising Congressional interest in state and local fusion centers, INPUT sees this as the first of a slow but steady stream of intelligence-related opportunities.

"Vendors should not chase homeland security opportunities to the exclusion of those that meet other critical day-to-day business needs," said Webster. "Five of the top ten opportunities address long-standing, bread-and-butter concerns such as records management, sex-offender tracking, offender case management, a centralized repository, and automated fingerprinting. However, vendors would be smart to look ahead and think about how these systems might be leveraged for homeland security purposes down the road. The interoperability and fusion angles are always strong selling points."

The DOJ and DHS Funding Drive $1.2 Billion in State and Local Opportunities of 2008 INPUT/Output(R) report is available on INPUT's website at http://JPSDHS.input.com.

About INPUT

INPUT is the authority on government business. Established in 1974, INPUT helps companies develop federal, state, and local government business and helps public sector organizations achieve their objectives. Over 1,300 members, including small specialized companies, new entrants to the public sector, and the largest government contractors and agencies, rely on INPUT for the latest and most comprehensive procurement and market information, consulting, powerful sales management tools, and educational & networking events. For more information about INPUT, visit http://www.input.com or call 703-707-3500.

Proper use of name is INPUT Media Contact: Meredith Lawrence [email protected] 703-707-3687

SOURCE INPUT

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