Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

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FOI / 3772 / 2018 - Control Room

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information.

Please see below the answers to your request.


1. How many seats do you have in total in your control rooms? How many of them are for call taking, dispatching and switching tasks?


We have 7 Control Operator positions in the Primary Control Room at Service Headquarters, an additional 3 in the Critical Incident Team room for use in spate conditions (also at Service Headquarters adjacent to the Primary Control Room), and 5 in our Secondary Control Room at Ongar Fire Station for business continuity purposes. All positions are multi-functional for call taking, dispatching and switching tasks.


2. What is the brand of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software used in your control rooms? How many seats are dedicated for it? When it was installed? What is the cost of the CAD system, cost of integration and installation, and cost of maintenance and support?


The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software is the Resque 4i system, supplied by Remsdaq. As above, all seats are multi-functional. It was installed in January 2015. The cost of integration and installation was £706,728, the cost of maintenance and support is £481,543 over 5 years (an average of £96,309 per annum).


3. What is the brand of the Evidential Voice Recording system for radio and telephony? How many replay stations are available for it? When it was installed? What is the cost of the Evidential Voice Recording system, cost of integration and installation, and cost of maintenance and support?


The Evidential Voice Recording system for radio and telephony is the DIVOS Voice Recording system, supplied by Frequentis. There is one replay station available for it. It was installed in January 2015. The costs of the Evidential Voice Recording system are an integral part of the overall Frequentis costs below.


4. What is the brand of the Telephony system for emergency and non-emergency calls from the public? How many call taking positions are available? When it was installed? What is the cost of the Telephony system for emergency and non-emergency calls, cost of integration and installation, and cost of maintenance and support?


The Telephony system for emergency and non-emergency calls from the public is the 3020 Integrated Command and Control System (ICCS), supplied by Frequentis. As above, all seats are multi-functional. It was installed in January 2015. The costs of the Telephony system are an integral part of the overall Frequentis costs below.


5. What is the brand of the Voice dispatch system for radio communications with operational units? How many seats are dedicated for it? When it was installed? What is the cost of it, cost of integration and installation, and cost of maintenance and support?


The Voice dispatch system for radio communications with operational units is also the 3020 ICCS, supplied by Frequentis. As above, all seats are multi-functional. It was installed in January 2015. The cost of integration and installation of all Frequentis system components was £456,246, the cost of maintenance and support is £131,892 over 5 years (an average of £26,378 per annum).


6. What is the brand of the Contact Management System, the software used to manage the contact between public and call taking positions? How many call taking positions are available? When it was installed? What is the cost of it, cost of integration and installation, and cost of maintenance and support?


ECFRS Control Room does not utilise a Contact Management System, all calls are routed to and taken directly from the 3020 ICCS, supplied by Frequentis.


7. Do you have broadband devices deployed to your field officers?


We do not have broadband devices deployed to our field officers.

What brand are they? Which Operating System are they using? How many devices do you have at the moment? When were they procured? Do you plan to buy new devices soon, if so when?

N/A


If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request you have the right to apply for an internal review.? Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of your original email and should be addressed to:?Internal Review, Performance & Data Team, Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB


Please note that the response and data released to you as part of this request will be published on the Essex County Fire & Rescue Service website. The website address is http://www.transparency.essex-fire.gov.uk/ All requests will be anonymised and no personal information including contact details will be disclosed as part of this process.


Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire And Rescue Service.