Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish four (4) Universal Term option contracts with AT&T for various communication services without the use of the competitive bidding process. The Universal Term option contracts to be established are (1) Centrex Services, (2) 311 Services, (3) Communication Circuits (DS1, ISDN PRI, GigaMAN, etc) and (4) MDA Savings Agreement. Universal Term option Contracts establish firm, fixed requirements and pricing while providing a simpler method for City agencies to procure and fund these services. The Purchasing Office and the Department of Technology have entered into negotiations with AT&T to determine scope and pricing.
The Purchasing office would also like to utilize the State of Ohio Master Service Agreement # MSA0022 for the purchase of AT&T Switched Ethernet (ASE) Service as it aligns with the cities technology migration strategy. The State of Ohio contract will be utilized if the cost is to the advantage of the City of Columbus. Ordinance 0582-1987 authorizes the use of State of Ohio Department of Administrative Services cooperative contracts when deemed cost effective. The State of Ohio Master Service Agreement with AT&T for Communications Circuits was not competitively bid. This ordinance will authorize the Finance and Management Director to establish purchase orders of up to $100.000.00 without additional Council approval for various AT&T communications services from established State of Ohio Contracts. The purpose for this is to allow City agencies to use the State Contract for cost saving purposes.
This ordinance also waives the competitive bidding process of the Columbus City Codes for the above-mentioned Universal Term option Contracts. Given the complexity of the systems and services being provided and embedded nature of these items it is not practical to bid any of these services at this time. Changing technology and potential competition in the m...
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