Roseburg City Council Unanimously Approves $453K Radio Purchase Ahead of Countywide Digital Upgrade

The Roseburg City Council has unanimously approved the purchase of new digital radios for the Roseburg Police Department, ensuring officers remain fully connected when Douglas County transitions to its upgraded UHF digital communication system early next year.

The decision came Monday night as the Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-18, exempting the purchase from normal competitive bidding and authorizing the City Manager to finalize a $453,280.84 contract with EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. The contract includes portable, mobile, and stationary radios as well as programming and installation.

Countywide System Going Digital in February

Douglas County Emergency Communications (DCEC) is completing a multi-million-dollar project that will shift law enforcement radio traffic from VHF analog to UHF digital by mid-February 2026. When that transition occurs, Roseburg Police’s current radios—now nearing the end of their usable lifespan—will no longer be compatible with dispatch or other agencies.

Because Roseburg officers rely heavily on clear, real-time communication with DCEC and surrounding jurisdictions, obtaining new equipment before the cutover is critical.

What the Purchase Includes

Through its partnership with Kenwood for the countywide upgrade, Douglas County negotiated steep discounts, 40% to 51.4% below standard pricing, for agencies purchasing compatible equipment.

Roseburg’s approved purchase includes:

• 50 handheld portable radios
• 25 mobile vehicle radios
• 1 stationary base radio
• Programming and installation for all radios

EF Johnson Technologies provided the lowest quote at $453,280.84. Two other quotes were significantly higher:

• Communications Northwest (Kenwood distributor): $648,892.16
• Day Wireless (Motorola equipment, installation excluded): $849,169.27

Because of the substantial cost difference and the time-sensitive nature of the system transition, the City determined that a formal bidding process would not provide additional public benefit.

Deadline-Driven Decision

All Douglas County agencies purchasing radios under the shared pricing agreement must place their orders by December 9. Grouping these orders allows every agency to secure the same discounted rate and ensures timely delivery.

To meet the mid-February launch, Roseburg must receive, program, install, and test its radios several weeks in advance.

City Selects General Fund for Purchase

While the City had previously budgeted funds for replacing older VHF radios in a future fiscal year, the cost of modern tri-band digital equipment is much higher. Roseburg has applied for a $300,000 Oregon State Homeland Security Program grant to offset the expense, and if awarded, the City will seek reimbursement.

At Monday’s meeting, the Council officially selected the General Fund Non-Departmental Capital allocation as the funding source. This avoids the need for an appropriation transfer and ensures the project can proceed immediately to meet the countywide deadline.

Unanimous Vote Secures the Path Forward

After discussion, the Council unanimously approved the motion:

“I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2025-18, EXEMPTING THE PURCHASE FROM COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH EF JOHNSON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FOR $453,280.84 FOR STATIONARY, MOBILE AND PORTABLE RADIOS WITH INSTALLATION AND PROGRAMMING.”

With this vote, Roseburg Police Department is on track to receive all required equipment ahead of the county’s digital cutover—ensuring uninterrupted communication and continued public safety when the new system goes live in February.