CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Cooperative Procurement 21-344, Mobile Broadband Data Services, to Verizon Wireless for an amount not to exceed $133,000 and for a one-year term
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DEPARTMENT: Information Technology
SUBMITTED BY: Jacqueline Nguyen, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Mobile broadband data services provide the wireless data connections required to allow City staff to use laptop computers when working in the field. For the past 18 years, Verizon mobile broadband services have been used by multiple departments, including the Police and Fire Departments for computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location information as well as by the Department of Public Works, TED Business Group, and Water and Electric Utilities to access software applications.
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 evaluations of the various promotional plans and cooperative contracts with associated terms and conditions.
The IT Department has not identified an alternative that is materially better in performance and total life cycle cost. Additionally, new projects on the horizon such as body worn camera and updates and changes to the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system may bring new cellular service voice and data requirements that will need to be incorporated into the evaluation of cellular service provider offerings.
Staff recommends continuing the current service with Verizon for the one-year term and, at a later date, evaluating service providers against the existing and future cell...
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