NTECC | Consolidation of Four PSAPS

Client: North Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTECC) | Addison, TX

The Challenge


The four communities of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, and the Farmers Branch of Texas each operated their own public safety 9-1-1 communications center. This required each jurisdiction to face the challenges and costs of staffing, equipping, and maintaining the operations and the specialized technology systems and facilities required to provide reliable services to their communities. As local government budgets have continued to come under intense strain, the communities needed strategies to maintain and improve services to the public while also constraining the overall costs of providing services.

Our Approach


In a previous project phase, IXP conducted a comprehensive business case analysis for a proposed consolidation of the four independent PSAPs currently operated by the jurisdictions. The findings of the Dispatch Study indicated the consolidation of the four cities would result in significant efficiencies and savings in both human and financial resources and all for a higher level of coordination of public safety services that will enhance the safety of the residents. Based on the study, IXP worked with the jurisdictions to establish their go-forward strategies, conduct property and facility assessments, and prepare for the implementation phase of the initiative.

The four cities formed the North Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTECC) and began the implementation. IXP was engaged to assist with the establishment and initial start-up and operation of the communications center in coordination with another ongoing radio system project.  We supported a full range of governance, operations, technology, facility, and transition support to ensure successful outcomes.

The Solution


IXP supported establishing the governance model, having established the corporation, Board of Directors, Operations Advisory Board, and Technical Advisory Board.  IXP developed the job descriptions, salary, and compensation packages and assisted in the hiring process. In addition to the human resources processes, IXP established the operational policies and procedures for the Regional Center. We conducted in-depth interviews with the operational staff of each municipality. We created the framework for a set of policies and procedures that addressed each municipality’s needs and the unique characteristics of a regional emergency communications center. Agency command staff, communications personnel, law enforcement, and fire personnel, and CAD/RMS key users participated in technology review sessions to determine whether to utilize an existing CAD/RMS vendor from one of the cities in the NTECC.  IXP developed complete functional requirements for CAD, Mobile, RMS, AVL, JMS, and related interfaces and procured and implemented the technologies. We provided oversight and support for the transition to living operations, and NTECC is now an operational regional center providing emergency services to over 200,000 residents.