CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 26-219, Cellular Phone Services, to Verizon Wireless for an amount not to exceed $338,000 and for a one-year term
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DEPARTMENT: Information Technology
SUBMITTED BY: Jacqueline Nguyen, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Certain staff positions are assigned smartphones to enhance their productivity and to promote effective communications with other staff, the Mayor and City Council members, and vendors and contractors.
The City procures cellular phone services using the State of Illinois cooperative contract with Verizon Wireless. The contracted services include voice, text, and data as well as a smartphone for each user. The cost of the smartphone is included in the monthly costs and is available for an upgrade every ten months.
The IT Department periodically audits and reviews cell phone services. IT staff partners with department leadership review cell phone services against the guidelines in the City’s Mobile Device Policy. The table below shows the cell phone count by department as of September 8, 2026.
The increased number of cell phones in the Police Department is required to support various MFA (multifactor authentication) methods required by several PD software in compliance with the CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) information security rules.
|
City Manager's Office |
5 |
|
Community Services |
5 |
|
Legal |
2 |
|
Finance |
2 |
|
Human Resources |
8 |
|
Electric Utility |
84 |
|
Water Utilities |
67 |
|
Public Works |
53 |
|
Fire Department |
50 |
|
Police Department |
290 |
|
Naper Settlement |
24 |
|
TED |
39 |
|
Information Technology |
34 |
|
TOTAL |
663 |
The cellular voice and data service provider markets are very competitive as service providers offer plans and promotions that change regularly and can contain complex terms and conditions. The Information Technology Department monitors, and periodically evaluates, alternative service providers.
At this time, Verizon has kept up with competitors regarding price reductions and feature additions. Staff is not aware of any material change in cost or performance from an alternative vendor that would offset the significant effort and cost of switching service providers. The terms of the current state contract with Verizon allow the City to terminate service at any time without penalty.
DISCUSSION:
Verizon has provided acceptable service with few problems. The Information Technology Department requests the award of cellular phone services under the State of Illinois cooperative contract to Verizon for the period through October 2, 2027. Staff have confirmed that the State is in the process of finalizing the new contract with Verizon, which will be active for a 10-year term.
Staff has identified an approved cooperative contract, State of Illinois Contract, through Cellco Partnership DBA Verizon Wireless, for the procurement of Cellular Phone Services.
The term of the procurement is from date of award through October 2, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP: N/A
Cellular phone services are expensed to the account number listed below. The requested award totals $84,500 for 2026, which is unfavorable to the remaining budget of $41,575.76 for this expense. It is expected that this overage can be accommodated; however, staff will monitor to ensure expenditures remain within the total approved budget. In 2027, the requested award totals $253,500, which is favorable to the budgeted amount of $348,000, assuming a full year of spending will reflect $338,000.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget |
|
16101100-542415 |
General Fund |
$632,000 |