Subject
Award and authorize the City Manager to execute The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Rider Agreement with Astound Business Solutions for the purchase of dark fiber, upgraded and new Internet Lines at the following City locations: City Hall, Senior Center, Police Station, Taft Court Center, and Equinix data center in Ashburn, VA, in the Amount Not to Exceed $729,980.00 for 5 years, with the first year cost of $185,996 ($135,996 service and $50,000 installation) and four (4) optional 1-year renewals of $135,996 per year.
Department
IT
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Mayor and Council award and authorize the City Manager to execute TIPS Rider Agreement with Astound Business Solutions for the purchase of dark fiber and upgraded and new Internet Lines at the following City locations: City Hall, Senior Center, Police Station, Taft Court Center, and Equinix data center in Ashburn, VA, in the Amount Not to Exceed $729,980.00 for 5 years, with the first year cost of $185,996 ($135,996 service and $50,000 installation) and four (4) optional 1-year renewals of $135,996 per year.
Discussion
Implementing the enhanced internet services detailed below will 1) minimize downtime and financial loss from outages, 2) increase network resilience and availability, 3) improve network performance and reduce congestion 4) support disaster recovery and business continuity and 5) mitigate risks from unforeseen events such as natural disasters and cyberattacks and is required to support the City’s Disaster Recovery site in Ashburn VA.
Enhanced Internet Services line detail:
Dedicated Internet Access:
City Hall 111 Maryland Ave: Upgrade 1Gb DIA (118255AB) to 10Gb DIA
Police Station 2 W Montgomery: Upgrade 500Mb DIA (118257AB) to 10Gb DIA
Senior Center 1150 Carnation: Upgrade 1Gb DIA (118258AB) to 10Gb DIA
Rockville Taft Center 6 Taft: New 10Gb DIA
Equinix: New 10Gb DC IA
Dark Fiber:
111 Maryland to 2 W Montgomery (Redundant Fiber to the Police Sation)
111 Maryland to 1150 Carnation (Redundant Fiber to the Rockville Senior Center)
111 Maryland to 6 Taft: 2 x New Dark Fiber Pair (Redundant Fiber to the Rockville Taft Center)
Connectivity to Equinix Data Center in Ashburn, Va:
111 Maryland Ave to Equinix: 30Gb EPL going to hub in Gaithersburg
111 Maryland Ave to Equinix: Crown Castle Type III 30Gb EPL (Redundant diverse path to Equinix)
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time this item has been brought before the Mayor and Council.
Procurement
This is a cooperative rider through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS), a national government purchasing cooperative managed by the Department of Texas Region 8 Education Service Center. The City of Rockville is a TIPS Public Entity Member, TIPS Member Control number MD994536.
TIPS issued a Request for Proposal #230105 on January 5, 2023 to solicit the procurement of technology solutions, products and related services. On January 31, 2023, Astound Business Solutions submitted a response to TIPS for services and on May 5, 2023 entered into a contract referred to as Contract #230105 TIPS Procurement Agreement.
TIPS competitive procurement procedure is similar to the competitive procurement procedure required by the City.
In accordance with Section 17-71(b) of the Rockville City Code, Cooperative Procurement, the City may contract with any contractor who offers goods, services, insurance, or construction on the same terms provided to other State or local governments or agencies thereof, who have arrived at those terms through a competitive procurement procedure similar to the procedures used by the City.
Astound Business Solutions is a non-Minority, Female, Disabled or Veteran (non-MFD-V) business.
The draft contract is attached as Attachment 1.
To view all contract documents, please click the links below:
1. Astound Quote Ref#OP482737 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=177599&GUID=bcd2181b-d973-4047-9a40-c540cb3b5bf6&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIxOTUgXyAx>
2. Addendum TIPS Pricing <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=177600&GUID=cfebcf37-ddb9-42af-85b1-e145235be0b5&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIxOTUgXyAy>
3. TIPS RFP <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=177601&GUID=d98357a8-bd70-4626-af92-eec4fe4901f4&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIxOTUgXyAz>
4. City of Rockville Tips Member #MD994536 <https://rockvillemd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AO&ID=177602&GUID=4936fae6-eed8-4343-96ab-b08c8fd77e9f&N=QWdlbmRhIDI2LTIxOTUgXyA0>
Fiscal Impact
Sufficient budget capacity is available in the IT Department, IT Operations Division FY 2026 operating budget to support this award of $50,000 of one-time costs associated with implementation, initiation and infrastructure. There is sufficient budget capacity available in the IT Department, IT Operations Division FY 2027 operating budget to support the annual operating costs $135,996. All future years are subject to Mayor and Council budget appropriations.
Next Steps
Upon Mayor and Council approval, the Procurement Department will complete the execution of the Rider Agreement with Astound Business Solutions for the purchase of dark fiber and upgraded and new Internet Lines at the following City locations: City Hall, Senior Center, Police Station, Taft Court Center, and Equinix data center in Ashburn, VA, in the Amount Not to Exceed $729,980.00. for a term of one (1) year, with four (4) optional 1-year renewals.