CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 19-249, Mobile Broadband Data Services, to Verizon Wireless for an amount not to exceed $235,000 and for a two-year term
body
DEPARTMENT: Information Technology
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie Nguyen, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Mobile broadband data services provide the wireless data connections that are required to allow City staff to use laptop computers when working in the field. The mobile broadband services are used by multiple departments, including the Police and Fire Departments for computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location (AVL) information as well as the Department of Public Works, TED Business Group, Water Utilities and Electric Utility to access software applications.
The State of Illinois has a joint purchasing (cooperative) contract with Verizon Wireless, for mobile broadband data services. The current State contract, CMS793372P, was awarded for a three-year term from October 3, 2016 to October 2, 2019 with the option to extend for up to six additional years.
The City has been using Verizon as its broadband data service provider for the last eighteen years. Most recently, the City Council approved the award of Contract 18-533 in August 2018 using this cooperative contract. The contract was approved for a one-year term from October 4, 2018 to October 3, 2019.
DISCUSSION:
The City has received excellent service for its mobile units using the Verizon network and has worked directly with Verizon to ensure that the mobile coverage is reliable throughout all parts of the City and to address any concerns. Additionally, the IT Department continues to work with Verizon to evaluate new pricing plans and monitor the City's account activity for the purpose of reducing costs. By partnering with Verizon to monitor usage and data plans on the individual devices, staff has reduced the annual award amounts from $130,000 in 2016,...
Click here for full text