CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 18-534, Cellular Phone Services, to Verizon Wireless for an amount not to exceed $318,000 and for a one-year term
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DEPARTMENT: Information Technology
SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Anderson, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Cellular phone services include the purchase of regular cell phones, smartphone devices and monthly service fees. These services include immediate communications between City staff and the Mayor and City Council as well as:
* Immediate communications between City staff and staff working in the field;
* Phones that help our ambulance personnel transmit data to the hospital as they are transporting patients;
* Smartphones that allow personnel to interact with our computer systems to monitor our water, sewer or electric service to our residents.
The City has been using the State of Illinois contract with Verizon for these services since 2014.
DISCUSSION:
As the current provider of wireless data services for all of Naperville cell phones, Verizon has provided exceptional service with minimal outages, dropped signals or disconnects. Verizon Wireless has been awarded a State of Illinois Joint Purchase Contract, #CMS793372P.
Staff works with the individual departments to monitor monthly cell phone usage and terminates lines with little or no usage. Staff will continue to reduce device inventory based on usage reports. Staff will continue to evaluate new pricing plans offered by Verizon Wireless and monitor our account activity to look for methods of reducing costs.
The cost for cellular service has increased $20,500 compared to last year. The increase in annual fees is due to several improvements in service to citizens and employee efficiency, including:
* All 90 members of the Police Department's patrol division were issued a phone at the beginning of 2018 to provide more effective communications with Naperville citizens.
* The Police...
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