A Public Sector Success Story

Image credit: Motorola Solutions

Image credit: Motorola Solutions

When Richmond-area jurisdictions decided to collaborate in purchasing a region-wide radio communications system for police, fire and rescue, the project was estimated to cost about $165 million — with a chance of overruns. The final price tag: $114.7 million.

Henrico County led the procurement effort, leveraging “group pricing” with other jurisdictions to negotiate a lower cost from Motorola Solutions, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

It is encouraging to see examples of government run competently and efficiently. In this instance, taxpayers benefited to the tune of about $50 million.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record… government should focus on a few core functions and do them exceptionally well. Fire, police and rescue are a core government function. Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties along with the cities of Richmond and Colonial Heights handled the procurement of this critical infrastructure exceptionally well. Let them serve as an example for others to emulate.