CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Option Year One 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:
In October of 2021, the City Council awarded Cooperative Procurement 21-343, Cellular Phone Services, to Verizon Wireless for a period of one year. This award is for the first of two option years to extend those services.
Certain staff positions are assigned cellular smartphones to enhance their productivity and to promote effective communications with other staff, the Mayor and City Council members, and with key vendors and contractors.
Examples of enhanced productivity include ambulance personnel transmitting data to the hospital while they are en route with patients, and City staff monitoring water, sewer, and electric services remotely 24 hours a day. The use of smartphones to enhance productivity by City staff continues to grow. Examples include new smartphone applications used by the Fire and Police departments and interworking between public safety radios and cellular networks.
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 ten months.
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 Information Technology (IT) department monitors and periodically evaluates alternative service providers.
DISCUSSION:
Verizon, the current wireless cellular phone services vendor, has provided excellent service with minimal ...
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