DOIT asks committee to approve $16.3M for MD First upgrades as DLS flags Motorola contract issues

DLS presented the Department of Information Technology's FY27 capital analysis and recommended approval of $16.3 million in GO bonds for MD First coverage improvements.

Analyst Yashoda Rai told the subcommittee MD First will add coverage and redundancy through three new radio sites and a base‑station radio replacement subprogram. Rai said the FY27 request includes $7.6 million for radio towers, $5.6 million for base station radios, $1.3 million for fiber optics and $1.0 million for in‑building amplifiers and control sites.

Rai also raised procurement questions: she noted a new 10‑year sole‑source maintenance contract with Motorola approved by the Board of Public Works and asked DOIT whether no‑cost extensions of the original Motorola contract include work for projects that received FY26 funding and whether new solicitations will be required for projects receiving FY27 funds.

Secretary Katie Savage, DOIT, said Maryland First is "the state's primary public safety communication system used by over 130,000 first responders across over 130 agencies," and asked the committee to approve the FY27 request to add three sites, expand bidirectional amplifiers in schools and government buildings, and add fiber to improve resilience.

The committee did not take votes; DLS urged DOIT to provide updates on the Motorola contract extensions and a revised capital master plan showing additional deficiencies and estimated costs.