Tetracom wins $7m South Australian CFS contract

Tetracom has been awarded a $7 million contract by the South Australian Country Fire Service to upgrade all fire ground radio equipment over the next five years.

It is thought to be the largest radio contract awarded in SA outside of the South Australian Government Radio Network and will include the latest digital technology.

It has been over a decade since the CFS upgraded its radio equipment. Every CFS brigade in South Australia will have its equipment updated, with installations set to commence in June 2015.

It is estimated that the process will take up to three years to complete, with the contract also including a five-year maintenance agreement.

Tait Communications was selected as the manufacturer of choice and will be supplying its TP9400 portable and TM9400 mobile radios through Tetracom as the prime contractor.

GPS technology will be utilised to improve efficiency and to assist in locating firefighters who have initiated an emergency call.

The upgrade will also allow the new radio network to be compatible with interstate fire services. Interoperability will enable volunteers from interstate to use their existing radios on the fire ground rather than using loan radios as was the case with the recent Sampson Flat bushfire.

“Volunteer safety and effective communications on a fire ground are imperative operationally,” said CFS Executive Director of Frontline Services Support Ann De Piaz. “Without these two we compromise our emergency service delivery, which impacts directly on the public’s safety.

“We are excited about this rollout, which will further strengthen our service delivery and our communication with our partner agencies on the fire ground.”

Tetracom Managing Director Jeff Perry said the company’s experience gained through dealing with the emergency services in South Australia over the past 20 years played a significant part in winning this tender.

“It is good to see the South Australian Government awarding contracts such as this to a South Australian company as this keeps employment and investment within the state,” said Perry.