DOJ BOP - Enterprise Radio System Project - MRAS

The Department of Justice (DOJ), in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to address communication challenges within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The initiative focuses on deploying an Enterprise Radio System (ERS) that aligns with Project 25 (P25) Phase II standards. This effort aims to unify and modernize the communication infrastructure across more than 120 correctional institutions nationwide, ensuring reliable and secure communications essential for daily operations, emergency responses, and staff safety.

The current Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems in use by the BOP are fragmented and outdated, comprising legacy Motorola Smartnet systems, standalone setups, and Core-based systems that do not meet modern interoperability standards. These limitations affect coverage, security, redundancy, and maintainability. The proposed ERS will replace these disparate systems with a unified trunked architecture designed to enhance interoperability across all facilities. This modernization effort is critical for improving officer and inmate safety while supporting continuity of operations throughout the correctional network.

The deployment plan involves establishing dual redundant Core sites at FCC Victorville in California and FCC Allenwood in Pennsylvania. These sites will provide centralized management capabilities along with redundancy and resiliency features. Other institutions will be configured as Trunking Subsystems connected to this enterprise backbone. An existing Core system at FCC Victorville will be utilized, while FCC Allenwood will integrate a system currently stationed at FCI Dublin after expanding its channel capacity. The contractor selected for this project will be responsible for relocating this system from FCI Dublin to FCC Allenwood as part of the phased migration plan.