Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR DARK FIBER WITH CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
On December 1, 2023, the Purchasing Division released an RFP (No. 23-049) for Dark Fiber Leases and/or Dark Fiber Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) services. The purpose of the Dark Fiber Lease is to provide primary and redundant fiber optic network connections between the City’s data centers and City Hall. The Dark Fiber lease agreements will serve to support the City of Carson’s regional data centers as a component of Carson’s IT Disaster Recovery Protocols.
The RFP closed on December 18, 2024, and no bids were received. Pursuant to CMC Section 2611(b)(3), the Purchasing Manager has determined since no proposals were received, the procurement may proceed without further compliance with competitive proposal requirements, and recommended City staff to solicit for quotes from regional telecommunications providers. Staff solicited quotes from regional telecommunications providers and received one (1) competitive quote from Crown Castle, Inc., a national dark fiber telecommunications provider with significant fiber assets in Southern California. Crown Castle, Inc. was selected as a qualified contractor to provide Dark Fiber leases to connect the City’s internal network with the City’s offsite regional data centers.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. APPROVE a contract with Crown Castle, Inc. for Dark Fiber Leases for an amount not to exceed $1,072,000 for a total term of 10 years; and
2. AUTHORIZE the Mayor to execute the contract after approval as to form by the City Attorney.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City of Carson is acquiring colocation space at regional data centers to enable initiation of several critical network and server upgrade projects currently on hold until the disaster recovery site is activated. The City requires primary and redundant network connectivity between City Hall and the regional data centers to connect to the City’s equipment.
On December 1, 2023, the Purchasing Division released an RFP (No. 23-049) for Dark Fiber Leases and/or Dark Fiber Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) services.
On December 18, 2024, the RFP closed, and no bids were received. Pursuant to CMC Section 2611(b)(3), the Purchasing Manager has determined since no proposals were received, the procurement may proceed without further compliance with competitive proposal requirements, and recommended City staff solicit telecommunications providers for quotes.
City staff received a competitive quote from Crown Castle, Inc. for primary and redundant dark fiber leases. Crown Castle, Inc. was selected as a qualified contractor to provide Dark Fiber leases for a 10-year term. Crown Castle’s proposed costs were reasonable and within the City’s budget at $10,000 for the non-recurring installation costs, $106,200 for the first-year dark fiber lease costs, and an annual rate of $106,200 each renewal year of dark fiber lease costs for a total 10-year term.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
The cost associated with the 10-year contract with Crown Castle, Inc. is not to exceed the amount of $1,072,000. The annual dark fiber lease cost is $106,200, and there is a one-time installation cost of $10,000. The Information Technology & Security Department will include the annual maintenance cost of the contract ($106,200 for second year) in the proposed 2024-2025 fiscal year and subsequent years.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Contract with Crown Castle, Inc.
Prepared by: Gary Carter, Director, Information Technology & Security Department