Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes the Director of Finance and Management for the Department of Technology (DoT), on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to establish a purchase order with Upstate Wholesale Supply dba Brite Computers, Inc. for the purchase of Fujitsu Tablets, related accessories and services from bid solicitation (BID SA005979). The total cost of this equipment purchase will be $408,007.00 which reflects a rebate credit of $707.00 stated in Brite Computers proposal (Bid proposal $408,714.00 minus $707.00 rebate credit proposed nets to a total cost of $408,007.00).
The Department of Public Utilities attempted to move from a paper centric operation to a paperless operation several years ago by implementing laptops for use in field operations. Backflow, Line Locating, Permits, Stormwater, Water Distribution Maintenance, Sewer Maintenance, and Power Distribution Maintenance were all outfitted with laptops and cellular data cards to access GIS, WAM, and Falcon. As a result of this it was found that this equipment would not perform at the level needed without having a negative impact on operations and some groups reverted back to a paper environment.
The Department of Public Utilities has been evaluating hardware for approximately 193 mobile users. The equipment that is currently in use is dated and not optimized for their work. Public Utilities made the decision to replace this equipment with the Fujitsu T725’s. The goal of this replacement project is to update older/less optimized equipment with newer, more optimized equipment in order to improve operational efficiencies and customer service.
Utilizing the Fujitsu T725 model laptop will allow for field operations to access GIS, WAM, Falcon, and Mobile Dispatching over a cellular network eliminating paperwork and the need for redundant data entry. This will also allow DPU to further its mobile environment by adding other applications that are needed by field perso...
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