Explanation
BACKGROUND: To modify and extend the existing citywide contract for the option to purchase group radio services for any city agency (the Division of Police is the largest user) to and including April 30, 2005. A contract for group radio services offered by the contractor was established on October 4, 1999 (contract number FL-900277). The Purchasing Office negotiated terms and conditions with Nextel Communications to provide group radio services for any city agency based on their needs. Their contract compliance number is 17-8219796. This company is not listed on the Auditor of State Findings for Recovery Database. This company is not listed on the Federal Excluded Parties Listing.
1. Amount of additional funds: The estimated annual citywide expenditure for this contract was $450,000.00, however, only a portion of this is anticipated to be expended for the group radio portion of the contract in the ensuing year. Each agency must obtain approval to expend from their own budgeted funds for their actual expenditures from this contract.
2. Reason additional needs were not foreseen: The purchase of technology for group radio services has been a sole source purchase in the past. Technology has evolved enough that other carriers are now providing similar services. This change created the opportunity for a Referral For Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) to be written and the bid process to move forward; however, the other technologies have not matured to the point of being able to be viable solutions for those agencies needing a group radio capability. The Department of Technology has hired a telecommunications consultant to assist in not only defining the present/future technology but also to do an analysis of invoices, research how wireless voice and wireless data is presently being used by city agencies, assist in creating a transfer of wireless voice and data policy, and make a recommendation on the best solution for the use of wireless voice...
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