DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Tablet Command to Provide Incident Management Software for the Hayward Fire Department with a Maximum Compensation Amount Not to Exceed $274,500 Over Five Years
RECOMMENDATION
That Council approves a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Tablet Command to provide incident management software for the Hayward Fire Department (HFD) with a maximum compensation amount not-to-exceed $274,500 over five years, subject to the annual budget process.
SUMMARY
HFD seeks to onboard Tablet Command for daily emergency response management software.
This iPad compatible software will provide the ability to have mobile management at each emergency response, which will provide situational awareness, including surrounding GIS information, responding units, CAD notes, and related alerts. By providing real-time incident information and a common operating platform, Tablet Command will help crews make faster, better-informed decisions and improve coordination during emergency response. This capability will benefit incidents within Hayward and mutual aid responses throughout Alameda County and across California.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this agreement are in the Fire Department adopted operating budget for FY 2026-
27. Funding for future years will be subject to the annual budget process. Additionally, by onboarding Tablet Command, HFD will be able to cancel Active911 and remove Toughbooks from the rigs, resulting in budget savings.
BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION
Tablet Command is a specialized mobile incident management software designed for firefighters and first responders, primarily used on iPads and iPhones. It enhances situational
awareness by providing digital tools for tracking personnel, managing incidents via drag-and- drop assignments, viewing real-time maps (AVL), and improving accountability. It is currently in use with every fire agency in Alameda County and over 70,000 fire agencies throughout the United States. HFD would like to join the local agencies to allow for greater compatibility for joint response efforts, as well as information sharing and best practice implementation methods. The full two-way CAD interface allows the user to better see and receive calls, incident mapping services, mobile phone interface with audio, fire mapping, incident sharing with other agencies, onsite training, and streaming service over internet at the fire stations.
In addition to the stellar reputation this program has garnered throughout Alameda County, HFD would like to onboard this software so that interagency communications will be seamless. HFD is exploring and, where possible, using all tools that will provide the most efficient and effective emergency response services to the Hayward community, and Tablet Command has proven to be the best solution in Alameda County. HFD will run Tablet Command on iPads, which will streamline onboarding by removing the “Toughbook” tablets that are currently on all rigs and transition to the more user-friendly platform. This will eliminate the need for an additional piece of equipment to purchase, service, and maintain, as the iPad is already included on all rigs for additional programming needs. Additionally, Tablet Command services include features that will render an additional program, Active911, useless, allowing for termination of an additional cost and contract. This procurement will piggyback off an existing procurement by another local agency.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This item supports Council’s Strategic Priority of “Enhance Community Safety.”
NEXT STEPS
If Council adopts the resolution, staff will work with the City Manager to execute the agreement and onboard the software.
Prepared by: Lauren Dekas, Management Analyst
Recommended by: Ryan Hamre, Fire Chief
Approved by:
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Jennifer Ott, City Manager