TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 35956 with GovConnection, Inc., dba Connection, of Merrimack, NH, for ongoing lifecycle replacement of equipment and new incremental technology growth, to increase the annual contract amount by $1,000,000, with a 10 percent annual contingency of the revised base contract amount of $386,600, for a total revised annual amount not to exceed $4,252,600, until the Region 4 ESC contract expires on May 31, 2024, with the option to renew for as long as the Region 4 ESC contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to amend Contract No. 35956 with GovConnection, Inc. (GovConnection), to continue providing ongoing lifecycle replacement of equipment and new incremental technology growth. The additional contract authority is needed to complete grant or one-time funded projects enhancing fiber and network for ongoing lifecycle replacement of equipment and new incremental technology growth.
On July 13, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 21-0074 to utilize the terms and conditions afforded to Contract No. R160202 with Region 4 Education Service Center (ESC), of Texas, through the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance-The Cooperative Purchasing Network (National IPA-TCPN) for furnishing, delivering and installing data center systems equipment, telecommunications equipment, and user devices. The total approved annual amount was not to exceed $2,866,000. With this additional requested amount of $1,000,000, the total revised base contract amount will total $3,866,000; of which, a 10 percent annual contingency amount of $386,000 is requested for a total annual contract not to exceed $4,252,600.
In 2018, GovConnection was selected as one of three vendors from cooperative agreements to provide technology-related equipment and software to meet critical technology infrastructure needs such as replacing outdated technology that is becoming unreliable and will not support new systems in the new Civic Center. GovConnection has provided a substantial portion of the technology and associated installation services throughout the last few years, including the equipment for the City of Long Beach’s (City) data center, network communications, audio/video systems, security cameras, and cybersecurity systems. GovConnection is a key partner to the City in meeting its ongoing and future critical technology infrastructure needs.
This contract with GovConnection was critical in 2020 when the City organization transitioned to incorporate remote work. The GovConnection contract was utilized for laptop equipment, mobile virtual private network access, and security software allowing the City to comply with the City’s Health Order for the Control of COVID-19. In addition to these needs, the GovConnection contract was the mechanism to acquire needed equipment to upfit the Community Learning Hub Program, which allowed kindergarten through eight grade students to have access to high-speed internet for distance learning assignments and enriching after-school activities. As the City operated several mobile services such as COVID testing and vaccintation sites, the GovConnection contract was used to equip staff and sites with necessary equipment for respective operational needs.
More recently in 2021 and 2022, the GovConnection contract is supplying the City with network equipment and software to modernize network connectivity of key City facilities such as the Main Health building, Worsham site, Housing Authority, Police Department Facilities, Fleet Bureau, Public Works Environmental Services Bureau and the Airport.
Pandemic-related needs and network upgrades for current facilities were not anticipated when the Technology and Innovation Department originally initiated this contract. The proposed increase to the contract amount will allow for existing network and telecommunications projects requested by partner departments to be completed. Other projects include the LBMUST Project for the Public Works Department, which will require more than one firewall, and to continue to acquire software and licenses for cybersecurity efforts.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley on April 15, 2022, Purchasing Agent Michelle Wilson on April 11, 2022, and by Budget Management Officer Nader Kaamoush on April 21, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 10, 2022, to ensure there is no interruption to services.
FISCAL IMPACT
The requested action increases the annual contract authority with GovConnection by $1,000,000, and a 10 percent annual contingency of $386,600 on the revised annual amount. The total annual amount of the contract will not exceed $4,252,600, inclusive of the 10 percent contingency. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted in the General Services Fund Group in the Technology and Innovation Department for ongoing lifecycle replacement of equipment and maintenance services. Contract authority is estimated to allow for both current and anticipated projects within various City departments. Any service or equipment purchases not currently budgeted in various departments will only proceed once appropriation has been approved by the City Council. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LEA D. ERIKSEN
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER