CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 21-343, Cellular Phone Services, to Verizon Wireless for an amount not to exceed $278,000 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 mobile phones for communications with each other, the mayor and City Council, while in the field, and with outside contractors.
Systems using wireless technology help ambulance personnel transmit data to the hospital while they are in route with patients and smartphones allow personnel to interact with the City's computer network to remotely monitor water, sewer, and electric services remotely 24 hours a day.
The City began using a State of Illinois cooperative contract with Verizon Wireless for cellular phone services in 2012 after the City experienced network and equipment failures with the previous provider. 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 upgrade every ten months.
Verizon, the current wireless cellular phone services vendor, has provided excellent service with minimal problems. To reduce cost, the Information Technology (IT) Department continues to evaluate any new pricing plans and monitors the City's account activity to ensure devices are assigned to appropriate staff.
DISCUSSION:
The cellular voice and data service provider market is very competitive. Service providers offer plans and promotions that change regularly and can contain complex terms and conditions.
Other vendors have been aggressive in pursuing the City's mobile voice and data business. In early summer 2021, and in preparation for the current award, IT staff began drive-test evaluations of Verizon, AT&T, FirstNet, and T-Mobile network performance. Staff also conducted evaluati...
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