Aurora, Naperville team up to buy new public safety radio systems.

Aurora and Naperville are teaming up to purchase a new state-of-the-art public safety radio system but it won't be coming from about 37 miles up the road.

Todd Beck, Aurora's chief technology officer, told alderman during a late special committee meeting Tuesday, that he would begin contract negotiations with M/A-Com, a division of Tyco Electronics based in Lynchburg, Va.

In a written statement, Naperville spokeswoman Nadja Lalvani stated that Naperville staff will bring the same recognition to Naperville councilmen during an upcoming council meeting.

Both cities currently use aging, analog Motorola systems that Beck said Motorola is "struggling to support."

Schaumburg-based Motorola also bid to build the cities' new interoperable digital radio system, which is believed to be valued at several million dollars but Beck told the aldermen that Motorola's product was inferior and cost between $4 million and $5 million more than the M/A Com proposal.

"Based on our proximity to Schaumburg, this will not be a popular decision. But it is my responsibility to make the recommendation to you that I feel that I can support," Beck said. "Given how the budget in 2009 will look, I cannot overlook a $4 million-$5 million difference in these products. That would be irresponsible."

Both Aurora and Naperville are part of the Northeast Illinois Communications Consortium (NICC) which includes Aurora, Naperville, Elgin, Grundy County, Will County, Plainfield and Northwest Central Dispatch Center in Arlington Heights. Earlier this summer the group was awarded a federal $550,000 grant to ensure first responders can communicate during disaster and other emergencies.

"Instead of Aurora doing something, Naperville doing something and Elgin doing something there's huge benefits to doing it together," Beck said. "So NICC was formed."

The two cities will be responsible for negotiating their own agreements but their systems will act as one, backing each other up in times of emergency.

Despite the agreement between Aurora and Naperville, other consortium members are free to contract with other service providers.

Aurora's Assistant Chief of Staff Carrie Anne Ergo would not discuss cost estimates until the negotiations are complete. She did, however, say the city budgeted $22 million for the new system and the M/A-COM bid was "less than that."

The new system is expected to be compatible with DuPage County's emergency telecommunications system and several mutual aid channels for police, fire, emergency medical services and emergency management.

Beck said he hopes to have a contract with M/A-COM approved in November and to have the system installed and tested before Aurora's new police station opens in 2010.