Mission Critical Solutions


The secure border initiative calls for extending high-tech "fences" in urban corridors, such as these surveillance cameras mounted atop towers.

Chula Vista Command and Control Center monitoring cameras installed atop towers.

Infrared and day light camera platform being installed on top of tower in Chula Vista, CA.

Microwave radio antenna system installed on tower.
Tampa, FL. Mission Critical Solutions (MCS), a small business, 8(a) & HUBZone contractor successfully implements US Department of Homeland Security, Custom and Border Protection's (CBP) Strategic Border Initiative (SBInet) related technologies by combining existing investments and current security infrastructure with state-of-the-art video surveillance technologies, best practices and creative thinking.

On May 31, 2006, MCS President Gil Gonzalez was personally presented a CBP Border Patrol Medallion by Rowdy Adams, Senior Associate Chief, Office of the Border Patrol, for MCS’ 2005/2006 Remote Video Surveillance work on helping the CBP secure the Northern and Southern Borders by integrating state-of-the-art full digital video capabilities along key US Mexican and Canadian border locations.

As the engineering and implementation prime contractor for DHS Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Remote Video Surveillance (RVS) systems at Chula Vista, CA (San Diego) and Blaine, WA (RVS is the predecessor to the America's Shield Initiative (ASI), and now part of SBInet), MCS has successfully accomplished substantial completion on both Northern and Southern border locations.

This Remote Video Surveillance System deployed along the US Northern and Southern borders provides accurate detection and identification of unauthorized border crossings. Advanced detection and identification coupled with information technology enables Border Patrol Agents to quickly, safely, and accurately observe and respond to unauthorized border crossings. Implementation of this advanced technology detection and identification system has already demonstrated increased Border Patrol identification and apprehension capabilities, as reported in the Media.

The RVS surveillance technology includes the integration of infrared and low level light day cameras mounted on 60 to 80 foot structures monitored and operated remotely from a central command and control center by real-time electronic video transmissions with camera control interfaces between the command and control center and the remote RVS camera towers. The remote cameras and the command and control center are seamlessly integrated, linked by microwave radios, fiber optics, satellite, and other innovative technologies.

The RVS surveillance technology includes the integration of infrared and low level light day cameras mounted on 60 to 80 foot structures monitored and operated remotely from a central command and control center by real-time electronic video transmissions with camera control interfaces between the command and control center and the remote RVS camera towers. The remote cameras and the command and control center are seamlessly integrated, linked by microwave radios, fiber optics, satellite, and other innovative technologies.

MCS is providing the technical, engineering, and construction services necessary to endow a fully operational and functional RVS platform. The architectural design and civil works effort includes camera, microwave tower erection, assembling and populating camera platforms; multi-tower foundation pouring and curing; pole/relay excavation and related equipment installation; power installation; 12 miles of fiber-optic cable commissioning, testing; radio antenna and equipment alignment, and operational testing of poles and relays. Systems engineering work includes the design, installation, integration, and implementation of the command and control center; video matrix switches; infrared day/night pan/tilt/zoom cameras; MPEG4 video over Internet Protocol (IP) encoding/decoding; communication shelter installation; generator backup; and Border Patrol personnel training in the operation and maintenance of the RVS.

MCS personnel assembled, integrated, and tested all platform-mounted equipment prior to installation of the platform on the tower.

The information technology and computing capabilities for the Chula Vista, CA CBP command and control center consists of 20-inch wall-mounted HDE LCD displays, which correspond to each platform camera pairs, and command and control operator stations. A high-end server manages all configuration information, controller commands, user interface, and map information for the entire system. Control of the cameras is by either the joystick/keyboard or Graphical User Interface (GUI). Commands from the joystick or keyboard are routed through an FT-Comb to a matrix switch and then to the remote sites. The video matrix switch outputs are routed to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and Drop-Down Monitors or Video GUI at each of the operator stations.

The communication systems include the installation of two 7GHz hitless 1-plus-1 hot standby microwave radio hops utilizing Ethernet technology to transport MPEG4 encoded video and data over IP. A built-in network management package allows real-time management and monitoring from any radio in the microwave network.

The Blaine, WA work included installation of over two miles of 48-strand fiber optic cable, a gigabit single mode fiber optic IP network, the design, implementation and the integration of 40 20-inch wall-mounted LCD monitors. Systems engineering work included the design, installation, and integration, of three windows-based operator command and control stations in the command and control center. Two video projector systems provide enlarged video viewing of selected cameras as required. A protocol conversion unit provides the camera pan/tilt/zoom capability.

MCS' Logistics and Maintainability support services, include products, records, data, property management (requisitioning, receiving, storing, issuing, and disposing of property), and the integration of Gov’t Furnished Equipment (GFE) with contractor purchased equipment

MCS is an SBA certified 8(a), SDB, and HUBZone contractor with over 200 technicians nationwide providing state-of-the-art security, intrusion detection, surveillance/camera systems, tower platform construction and installation, voice/data communications (fiber, copper, wireless, and microwave), network infrastructure design, installation, and maintenance, video technology, telecom, high and low voltage electrical installation, IT, facility maintenance, and audio/visual and multimedia services.

For more information, contact:
Doug Stacy, (813) 865-1043 dstacy@mcsoftampa.com or
Jim Slagle, VP, (813) 865-1047