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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Ram Tyagi, Chief Information Officer
Jeff Anderson, Deputy Chief Information Officer
Erick Davis, IT Service Desk Manager
DATE: December 11, 2025
SUBJECT:
Approve the award of cellular phone services, to Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (Verizon) using the most recent State of Illinois contract and a one-time retention credit and a one-year term.
PURPOSE:
This award will City IT staff to continue to provide cellular devices to city employees and city equipment.
BACKGROUND:
The City began an initiative to modernize and streamline its cellular communications program for municipal staff. The proposed partnership focuses on three key areas: Cellular Connectivity, Device Management, and Value-Added Programs available to the City.
Connectivity requirements called for reliable 4G-5G LTE service across Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Will, and Cook counties. Device Management required a comprehensive service model covering maintenance, replacement, and lifecycle refresh of all cellular devices. Staff also evaluated value-added offerings that could benefit City employees and the broader community.
DISCUSSION:
The City engaged Marketplace.city to help select a cellular provider.
The Marketplace.city process followed is below:
-- Drafted and publicly posted the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Document for vendors to complete to be included in the reporting and selection process.
-- It was posted and distributed on 7/12/23 and closed 8/9/23.
The City received three responses by the deadline-AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, and Verizon. A review team from Public Safety, Purchasing, and IT evaluated the submissions and advanced T-Mobile and Verizon to the RFP stage.
Both vendors received the RFP on 12/6/23 and submitted responses by 12/21/23. City staff from Police, Fire, and IT conducted extensive testing throughout spring and summer 2024, evaluating cellular phones and various data devices citywide.
During testing, the City received COPS grant funding from the Department of Justice. Because a portion of the grant would fund laptop replacements, staff paused laptop testing until new models were purchased. Following approval of R24-389, the City acquired 675 laptops across three models, and testing of these devices began in early 2025.
In the first quarter of 2025, comprehensive testing resumed on phones, in-vehicle laptops, and other data devices. Results consistently showed that Verizon provided stronger coverage, better customer support, and full compatibility with all City equipment.
In summer 2025, Verizon began negotiating a renewal of the State of Illinois cellular contract. City staff opted to wait for the updated agreement, which ultimately reduced monthly recurring costs and reclassified some devices into lower-cost categories. Estimated savings, based on the City’s active devices as of September 2025, are shown below.
|
|
|
Monthly Costs |
|
Savings |
|
Plan Type |
Count |
Previous |
Current |
|
MRC |
Pct |
|
Data |
523 |
16,799.99 |
15,880.75 |
|
|
|
|
Laptop |
455 |
16,345.75 |
9,100.00 |
|
|
|
|
Smartphone |
827 |
31,839.50 |
30,590.24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,985.24 |
55,570.99 |
|
9,414.25 |
14.5% |
In addition to the reductions in costs shown above, Verizon has agreed to a one-time retention credit offer of $392,000.00. Once signed, this credit will be applied to city Verizon accounts in 2026.
Attachments to this resolution are:
-- SLED LOA Template Revised 08292023_City of Aurora - Retention offer RFP_3.0.0
-- $392,000.00 retention offer to City
-- 2022 P-4622 CMS793372P Cellco-Verizon Contract Renewal 2 - Executed
-- FYI Only: 2022 Verizon contract with State of Illinois
-- Executed P-4622 Ce9-26-2025 Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless Contract Amendment - Extension Sept 26 2025
-- FYI Only: Extension to the Verizon contract with State of Illinois
-- Verizon Mail - Fwd_ New Smartphone Plan added to the State of Illinois contract - $36.99 includes Hotspot
-- FYI Only: Verizon notice that data hotspots have been added to State of Illinois contract
State of Illinois Pricing Catalog 2025.pdf
-- FYI Only: Verizon Pricing Catalog for State of Illinois
In 2026 and forward, funds will be centralized in account 101-1280-419.44-01 for these expenses.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not proceeding with signing this retention credit offer will result in a loss of $392,000 in credits for the City.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Request the proposed resolution be adopted.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to approve the award of cellular phone services, to Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (Verizon) using the most recent State of Illinois contract and a one-time retention credit and a one-year term.
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, as part of its Technology Strategic Plan, the City is identifying and replacing its outdated and underperforming systems; and
WHEREAS, city staff completed a request for proposal for cellular services and unanimously selected Verizon as the cellular carrier of choice; and
WHEREAS, cellular services from Verizon will be made through the State of Illinois contract with Verizon CMS793372P which expires October 2, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Verizon has agreed to a one-time retention credit offer of $392,000.00; and
WHEREAS, in 2026 funds will be centralized in account 101-1280-419.44-01 for these expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Director of Purchasing shall be and hereby is authorized to issue such purchase orders are necessary to carry the purposes of this Resolution into execution, provided that nothing in this Resolution shall be construed as directing the Director of Purchasing to issue said purchase orders or execute any contract on behalf of the City that does not comply with the City's procurement policies and obligations.