Two and a half years is more than enough time
Re AC "It's not that simple"
1 EISEC - See VOIP vs Land Lines in
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/15/voip_999/comments/
2 And regarding the comment above : no you can’t knock up a control room system from scratch before 2012. It does involve integrating touch screens, telephony, mapping, TETRA and VHF radio with a decent GUI and ensuring the thing is stable.
The police have had integrated touch screens, telephony, mapping, TETRA and VHF radio with a decent GUI and stable systems for some years now and from different suppliers.
Software Integrated Communications Control System (SICCS) are used worldwide in mission-critical, emergency services environments. It seamlessly merges radio despatch, telephone call handling, video monitoring and web services, enabling control room operators to conduct their duties effortlessly in a stressful environment.
Furthermore there are a number of suppliers for SICCS systems and the best suppliers have plenty of experience with this now.
It does, however, depend on how well the tender spec was written and the management of the tender process.
This SICCS stuff is pretty much off the shelf now, the radio software and hardware is on at least version 3 and the only limiting factor is the depth of your pocket.
The fire service have had this coming for about 7 or 8 years now and there are about 125 working [5 day] weeks from now to the end of 2011. So, - two and a half years not enough time?
Nonsense. The whole thing can be designed, delivered and tested and be ready for service in under 12 months if the building is ready. Just get on and do it!!!
I'm done here. I'll get my jacket - it's the one with the worn brown leather patches on the elbows.