CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 25-284, 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 timely and 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 10 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 5, 2025.
City Manager's Office|1010|Community Services|1010|Legal|1010|Finance|1010|Human Resources|10 10|Electric Utility
87
Water Utilities
64
DPW
52
Fire Department
49
Police Department
255
Naper Settlement
21
TED
40
IT
36
TOTAL
626
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 IT 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...
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