Approve Grant Agreement DBFFY2341173301 between Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) and Cochise County, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2026, in the amount of $1,500,000, for implementation, maintenance, and support of a school safety program that includes a secure multimedia data communication system for public safety and public schools.

The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) has granted Cochise County $1,500,000 to implement, maintain, and support a school safety program that includes a secure multimedia data communication system for public safety and public schools. 

ADOA, as described in Arizona Revised Statue 41-1733, will distribute the sum of $1,500,000 to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office to establish and maintain a school safety program. The program selected by the schools is Navigate360. This program, as per statue, will do the following: 

1. Encompasses schools throughout this state. 

2. In a school safety program county, enables the deployment of a secure, multimedia data communications system to a user base consisting of public safety agencies and public schools providing instruction in any combination of kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve.

3. Provides a communications solution environment that allows for:

(a) Identifying system users' identity, location and operational status during an incident.

(b) Secure text messaging and file sharing to all users involved in an incident.

(c) Secure sharing of collaborative maps, building floor plans and images between schools and public safety agencies.

(d) Integrating manually activated panic alarm systems that, when activated, establish direct collaboration between schools and public safety agencies.

(e) Using multiple forms of real-time communications and information collaboration, including voice and full-motion video sharing, during an incident.

4. Is capable of being deployed to end users on existing communications assets owned by participating entities.

5. Allows each participating entity to maintain discretionary real-time control of all communications assets owned or operated by the entity.

6. Encrypts all media communications.

7. Is certified under the United States department of homeland security safety act as qualified anti-terrorism technology.

8. Is compatible with the federal emergency management agency interoperable gateway system for disaster communications.

9. Ensures student and staff privacy.

10. Enables integration to school access control systems to allow remote lockdown by law enforcement through the same multimedia system.

The Sheriff's Office will work with local public school officials, local law enforcement and dispatch centers to purchase and install Navigate360 into the participating schools and law enforcement agencies.  

In not approved local schools, dispatch centers, and law enforcement will face the same communication issues we have experienced in past critical incidents. This will continue to needlessly place everyone in greater danger simply because there is not a mechanism in place that allows everyone to pass information to each other in quickly evolving situations.  

Please send two signed copies to the Sheriff's Office finance department.