Submitted By: Lorinda Tritt
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Presentation By: William Hughes
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Department: Ocala Fiber Network
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve additional expenditure with Morse Communications, Inc. to provide network redundancy professional services and training necessary for the completion of the Alcatel Lucent Project in the amount of $88,596
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
On October 8, 2020, Morse Communications, Inc. (“Morsecom”) was the awarded bidder under the City’s Alcatel Lucent Hardware and Software solicitation, Invitation to Bid No. OFN/200610, for the acquisition and maintenance of network switches. Ocala Fiber Network (“OFN”) procured and installed this switching equipment in preparation for the conversion of the network from Spanning Tree Protocol (“STP”) to the latest technology, Shortest Path Bridging (“SPB”).
The conversion to SPB will increase redundancy and provide greater network reliability for customers. To complete this project, OFN will receive on-site professional services and specialized training on architectural planning, switch programming, and customer migration provided by Morsecom.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
OFN’s current STP network provides limited system redundancy. City staff recommends Morsecom’s on-site professional services and training so OFN staff will be able to complete the implementation of the new SPB technology to increase network redundancy and reliability.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funds for this proposal are budgeted and encumbered in FY22 account #490-031-296-539-53-46010 in the amount of $88,596.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
The underlying hardware and software purchases and training services were procured in compliance with the City’s Procurement Policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The terms and conditions of Morsecom’s training proposal will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by the City Attorney, Robert W. Batsel, Jr.
ALTERNATIVE:
Approve, table or deny.