Message Switch System Replacement

The San Mateo County Public Safety Communications (PSC) Department is the central emergency communications hub for the County of San Mateo, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. PSC provides 24/7 dispatch and 911 emergency communication services for all Fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and several Law Enforcement agencies within the County. The department serves a diverse population of approximately 750,000 residents across multiple municipalities, unincorporated areas, and special districts, ensuring timely, coordinated responses to public safety incidents.

PSC currently manages the County’s legacy Message Switch System (MSS), a secure platform that enables law enforcement agencies to access and exchange critical data from multiple criminal justice and public safety information systems, including the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS). However, the existing MSS is outdated, increasingly difficult to support, and lacks the scalability and security features needed to meet modern operational and regulatory demands.

To address this challenge, the County is seeking qualified vendors to provide a replacement MSS solution that ensures seamless integration with state and national systems, enhances data security, supports real-time information exchange, and provides long-term maintainability. A successful outcome will result in a modern, reliable, and CJIS-compliant message switch platform that meets the current and future needs of San Mateo County law enforcement and public safety partners.

San Mateo County’s Public Safety Communications (PSC) Department supports a countywide network of emergency responders, providing critical dispatch and data routing services to law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies in the region. PSC also acts as the custodian of the County’s Message Switch System (MSS), which facilitates secure, real-time access to external criminal justice systems, including CLETS, DOJ, and NCIC.

A Message Switch System (MSS) in a law enforcement context functions as a centralized communication hub that enables secure and efficient message routing between disparate systems such as internal CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch), state and federal databases like CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System), DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), AWS (Automated Warrant System), ARM (Automated Regional Messaging), and other local or national law enforcement agencies. It plays a vital role in ensuring timely access to mission-critical information.

The existing MSS has served the County reliably for many years, but its aging architecture now presents operational risks. As vendor support diminishes and compliance requirements evolve, maintaining the system has become increasingly difficult. Key challenges include limited scalability, lack of modern security features, and difficulty integrating with emerging technologies.

This project represents a strategic investment in public safety infrastructure. The County seeks a forward-thinking solution that not only replaces the legacy MSS, but also improves system reliability, enhances data security, and supports future growth. Vendors who understand the mission-critical nature of law enforcement communications — and can deliver a stable, compliant, and future-ready system — will be best positioned to meet the County’s needs.