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CONTRACT K-1819-65: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND TRANS-TEL CENTRAL, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,559.44; PERFORMANCE BOND B-1819-43; STATUTORY BOND B-1819-44; MAINTENANCE BOND MB-1819-32 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIBER OPTIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN CONNECTION WITH PHASE II OF COMPLETING A FIBER OPTIC LOOP (ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF PORTER AVE FROM ALAMEDA STREET, NORTH TO MAIN STREET) AND RESOLUTION R-1819-31 GRANTING TAX EXEMPT STATUS.
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BACKGROUND: On May 23rd 2017, City Council voted to approve Phase I of a project to complete a City-owned fiber optic network loop throughout the City. Phase I was complete as of July 1st, 2017. This placed the first leg of fiber for a fiber optics loop around the city’s urban area. The fiber optics infrastructure in the City of Norman is more critical today to City business and public health and safety than ever before. With only one critical path of fiber in to our main Information Technology Data Center, the City is at risk of losing critical services in the event of a disaster or fiber optics line break along this critical path. City provided services that could be affected by a break on this critical path include but are not limited to email, internet, electronic commerce, computer-aided dispatch for public safety, and electronic communications with citizens.
The City’s Information Technology (I.T.) and Public Works Departments proposed a plan to correct this situation in two Phases. Phase I completed two goals 1) create the first leg of a fiber optic loop around the City and 2) move the critical fiber infrastructure in this area out of the way of the Central Library construction project and James Garner Avenue expansion project. Phase II involves the second and final connection of fiber optics into the City’s Data Center, completing the fiber optics loop. This leg of fiber optics will connect to an existing fiber optics termination box on the southeast corner of Alameda Street and Porter Avenue. The new construction will follow City of Norman right of way from that point directly northwest along the east side of Porter Avenue and terminate in an existing fiber optics junction box on the northeast corner of Main Street and Porter Avenue. This fiber will join existing fiber on Main Street to complete the fiber loop, thus providing a redundant fiber loop (eliminating the single critical path that exists today). When Phase II is complete, any break or damage to the fiber optics line will result in a reroute of the data automatically to a different path on the loop and keep City services online.
This plan has been reviewed and approved by staff of IT, Public Works, the City Manager’s Office, Legal, and Finance Department. No major impacts to traffic, homes, or businesses are anticipated due to the construction. The fiber and conduit will be installed via underground boring for the length of the path.
This item brings forward to Council a contract with Trans-Tel Central, Inc. in the amount of $61,559.08 to complete Phase II of the project as described above.
DESCRIPTION: Section 8-204 of the City Code exempts supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services from competitive bidding when they are supplied at the same prices as that set by a state purchasing agency. The IT Department recommends utilizing the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and OneNet Contract for Conduit and Fiber Optic Construction (B1407) with Trans-Tel Central, Incorporated of Norman, Oklahoma, for installation of the fiber. Contract K-1819-65 with Trans-Tel proposes to utilize this exception to competitive bidding provided for in the City Code. .
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract K-1819-65 and the associated bonds with Trans-Tel Central Incorporated in the amount of $61,559.44. Funds are available in the Capital Fund, City Fiber Infrastructure Repair and Expansion, Construction (account 050-9556-419.61-01; project BG0060).