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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Michael Pegues, Chief Information Officer
DATE: 2/2/2018
SUBJECT:
To obtain City Council authorization for a professional services agreement with National Technologies (NTI) for fiber audit, preventative maintenance, and repairs in the amount of $275,000.
PURPOSE:
With over 82 plus miles of fiber optics, including our traffic fiber, it is beneficial to use a single vendor that knows our color coding and the scope of our ring structure. National Technologies (NTI) also knows our fiber strand layout for quick remediation if there were any splicing or emergency fiber repair.
BACKGROUND:
National Technologies (NTI) has been our sole fiber repair and maintenance provider since 2015. NTI knows the City of Aurora's fiber network and already provided deep discounts for current and past projects. Kane County also uses National Technologies (NTI) as primary for their fiber's auditing, maintenance, and repairs. With our current partnership with Kane County, it will be in the city's best interest to standardize with one vendor as we optimize our fiber to its fullest potential.
The City of Aurora's fiber network has never had a complete audit of all of its assets. As we are expanding our network to promote Economic Development, it is vital to have an exact inventory of all of its assets. National Technology (NTI) provided a quote that would include a total audit of all 82 plus miles, identify and remediate any issues, and provide written documentation and photos upon completion. In using National Technology (NTI) to perform this audit, they are also including a quote for 24/7 NOC monitoring service. This will provide us with on call technicians and restoration crews, if ever an emergency.
DISCUSSION:
There is a Capital Improvement Plan (C104) that allows for ongoing maintenance and emergencies, replace end of life equipment, and augment the fiber optic network to provide business continuity and disaster recovery.
Without proper planning, the push for a quick-fix upgrade could result in negative consequences on our local government, economic development, and various consumers including residents, businesses, anchor institutions, schools, public safety and libraries.
The amount of $275,000 have been calculated based off the quotes given to us by Nat Tech LLC for $236,850, and additional amounts calculated from 2017 costs for emergency repairs, such as fiber hits and breaks.
The account number for this has been budgeted in the 2018 Information Technology budget 353-1380-419.73-86.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
If random vendors were used who are unfamiliar with our color coding of the fiber, they could inadvertently take down live traffic on the city's network by cutting the wrong fiber strands which will cause major network outages. This includes not only city's network but the Onlight customers as well.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the proposed resolution be adopted.
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mesiacos
Alderman Bugg
Alderman Mervine, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to obtain City Council authorization for a professional services agreement with National Technologies (NTI) for fiber audit, preventative maintenance, and repairs.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, National Technologies (NTI) has been our preferred vendor for fiber repair and maintenance since 2015, and
WHEREAS, NTI knows the City of Aurora's fiber network and already provided deep discounts for current and past, and
WHEREAS, the account has been budget within the Capital Improvement Plan (C104) that allows for ongoing maintenance and emergencies, replace end of life equipment, and augment the fiber optic network to provide business continuity and disaster recovery, and
WHEREAS, the funds are available for the total amount of $275,000 in the 2018 budget account 353-1380-419-73.86,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: to obtain City Council authorization for a professional services agreement with National Technologies (NTI) for fiber audit, preventative maintenance, and repairs in the amount of $275,000.