TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents and subsequent amendments, with Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless (Verizon), of Annapolis Junction, MD, for cellular broadband services and modems, on the same terms and conditions afforded to the State of Utah, through the National Association of State Procurement Officials ValuePoint (NASPO) Master Agreement 152-1 with Verizon, in an annual amount of $600,000, with a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $120,000, for a total annual contract amount not to exceed $720,000, until the NASPO contract expires on August 11, 2024, with the option to renew for as long as the NASPO contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless (Verizon), to provide cellular broadband services and modems.
The Technology and Innovation Department (TI) is responsible for purchasing, deploying, and maintaining cellular broadband modems and administering cellular broadband services used by the City’s mobile workforce, public safety vehicles, remote facilities, and field infrastructure. City building inspectors were the first to use broadband modems to access inspection data using laptop computers in the field. The Long Beach Police and Fire Departments’ vehicles have mobile data computer systems that enable public safety staff to conduct computer-based work in the field, including writing reports, researching computerized records, retrieving investigative database information and photographs, and accessing other City-related applications from the field. In addition, cellular broadband modems have enabled TI to rapidly provide connectivity to field staff and equipment in remote facilities and locations in the City.
Currently, the City has over 1,200 cellular data modems deployed, of which over 50 percent are used by public safety departments. As bandwidth capabilities continue to improve, the use of cellular data technology will continue to grow, enabling the use of more City applications from the field.
On November 18, 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution No. RES-14-0105 to utilize the State of California Department of General Services’ (DGS) Participating Addenda in the Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA) Master Service Agreement for wireless products and services with Verizon. The WSCA Master Service Agreement for wireless products and services with Verizon will expire with no renewal options on March 31, 2021.
To ensure the City continues to have access to volume pricing discounts for cellular broadband services and modems with Verizon, City Council approval is requested to execute participating addenda on the same terms and conditions afforded to the State of Utah under NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement 152-1 with Verizon.
The use of cooperative purchasing contracts provide agencies with opportunities for greater efficiencies in acquiring goods and services, reduces the City's administrative burden of conducting a competitive bid process, and offers more significant cost savings by leveraging multiple-agency buying volumes. The proposed Resolution allows purchases under the NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement for as long as it is in effect, and the City's participation may be terminated at any time with 30 days' prior written notice.
City Charter Section 1802 provides an alternative procurement method by permitting the City to purchase or otherwise obtain services, supplies, materials, equipment, and labor with other governmental agencies. This alternative procurement method can save time and reduce costs through economies of scale by purchasing under existing contracts from other government agencies on a voluntary and selective basis, when authorized by a Resolution adopted by the City Council.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley on February 24, 2021, Business Services Bureau Manager Tara Yeats on February 18, 2021, and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on March 4, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt a Resolution and award a contract concurrently is requested on March 23, 2021, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total annual amount of the contract will not exceed $720,000, which includes the cost to provide cellular broadband services and modems and the 20 percent contingency. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted in the General Services Fund Group in the Technology and Innovation Department. Costs for cellular broadband services are recovered from client departments through the annual TI Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 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.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
LEA D. ERIKSEN
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER