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Consideration of request by Fire Chief, Communications Manager, and Director of Information Services for approval of a three-year contract with Rave Mobile Safety for a mass notification system, in the amount of $13,770 per year, for a total amount of $41,310
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Submitted by:
James Case, Fire Chief
Eva Ennamorato, Communications Manager
Jalal Ali, Director of Information Services
Department:
Fire Department
Communications Division
Information Services Department
A. Issue
Requesting approval to renew our contract with Rave Mobile Safety for another three years to continue providing mass notification capabilities to the City of Wauwatosa. This system remains an essential tool for both emergency and operational communications across multiple departments.
B. Background/Options
Since transitioning from CodeRED to Rave Mobile Safety in 2022, the system has proven to be highly reliable and effective. In 2024 alone, the system was used 73 times. Use was primarily for operational purposes, but also for a few emergency alerts including snow emergencies and law enforcement notifications.
Rave consistently delivers a near-100% delivery rate across text, phone, and email channels. This high performance allows us to reach internal teams and the public quickly and reliably. The platform’s integration with social media continues to expand our communication reach.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
This system supports several elements of the City's strategic plan, including safe and healthy communities, well-maintained infrastructure, and effective public communication.
D. Fiscal Impact
A new three-year agreement at a fixed annual cost of $13,770 per year. Year one is already covered by Information Services’ 2025 budget. If approved, this item will continue to be included in the Information Services budgets for 2026 and 2027.
This updated rate reflects an increase of $270 annually over the previous contract but offers long-term value by balancing cost predictability with continued high service levels.
Year One 2025: $13,700
Year Two 2026: $13,700
Year Three 2027: $13,700
Choosing a three-year term allows us to lock in a lower cost and protect against inflation, while still providing flexibility to assess and ensure service levels remain high.
Given the system’s strong performance, including 73 uses in 2024 and a near-100% delivery success rate, Rave continues to meet the City’s needs. Additionally, the cost of researching alternatives, combined with the potential expenses of migrating to a new platform and staff retraining, would outweigh any minor savings from switching vendors. The original vendor evaluation was conducted thoroughly less than three years ago, and Rave continues to meet both operational and financial expectations. Therefore, we do not believe it is necessary to seek alternative providers at this time.
E. Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the three-year renewal contract with Rave Mobile Safety at the outlined terms.