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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-83-0115J-82-93 # f RESOLUTION NO. t? 1Y a.., .A- jL A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES, INC._ TO DEVELOP A MASTER TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI; FURTHER ALLOCATING A MAXI- MUM OF $35,000.- FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SAID FIRM. WHEREAS, eight proposals were received on July 19, 1982 for qualification of an independent telecommunications consultant to develop a City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that the City Telephone Service has become increasingly deficient due to the ever increasing and changing organizational structures, functions, and growth; and WHEREAS, the Centrex System was implemented in 1975 and at the present time offers a minimally acceptable level of service and growth potential; and WHEREAS, it was decided by the Users Committee that a need exists for a City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the plan is to provide the City with a recommended plan of action for upgrading present and future tele- communications services as required by City users; and WHEREAS, the Selection Committee has determined that the three following firms are highly qualified to perform the required ser- vices, 1) Communications Sciences, Inc. 2) TCS Communications Con- sultants, 3) Booze, Allen & Hamilton, Inc.; and WHEREAS, the above order of selection is based upon initial proposals, presentations and final proposals by the firms; and WHEREAS, funds in the amount of $35,000.-- have been budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program (Coordinated City -Wide Tele- communications System). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. That the proposal by Communication Services Inc.to pro- vide the City of Miami with a recommended plan of action for upgrad- ing present and future telecommunications services, is accepted at a cost not to exceed $35,000.00. CITY COMMISSION to rEE i ING OF F E Q 1 0 1983 RESOLUTION NO.......... REIAARKS:............................ Or Section 2. That an amount not to exceed $35,000 is here- by allocated from the Capital Improvement Account (coordinated City -Wide Telecommunications System), to fund this project. Section 3. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the firm of Communication Services, Inc. to provide a recommended City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan, at a cost not to exceed $35,000.00. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS loth A_EST: XALPH G. ONGIE CITY CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: Joe ROBERT F. CLARK DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: E R. GARCIA-PEDROSA Y ATTORNEY -2- day of February, 1982. Maurice A. Ferre M A Y 0 R 34 11 ":iry OF !'IA1.11. FLOk10A HT) c_ r.ser:�(_)RANDUM To Howard V. Gary City Manager GATE SUBJECT r C. E. o , Dir#icle FF.F EFEI2CES. Building and VMaintenance Department F `JCLCSURES BACKGROUND October 20, 1982 FILE Resolution on Selection of a Telecommunications Consultant It was decided by the Users Committee that a need exists for a City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide the City with a recommended plan of action for upgrading present and future telecommunications services as required by City users. In order to maintain efficient modern communications between and within the City departments, the public,and other agencies, a definitive City - Wide Telecommunications plan must be developed and adhered to in the future. The plan must be realistic with options based upon flexibility, equipment availability, initial cost considerations, maintenance and life cycle costs. All telephone and data communication services for the City of Miami are presently being supplied by Southern Bell Telephone Company, which includes the following: 1. CENTREX System with 1380 lines to 90 city facilities of which 15 are major facilities. 2. 356 special circuits for radio control, data and other special applications. 3. Common carrier equipment and trunks for emergency 911 system. 0 City Telephone Service has become increasingly deficient due to the ever in- creasing and changing of organizational structures, functions and growth. Most departments have a high degree of public contact. The Centrex System was implemented in 1975 and at the present time, offers a minimally acceptable level of service and growth potential. Annual budget for FY 183 will exceed $1.3 million for City -Wide Telephone and Data Services. PAGE 1 of 5 83-1.11EP, f: t T 1 Howard V. Gary Resolution on Selection of a City Manager Telecommunications Consultant It may be necessary to competitive bid all future City telephone system expansions and enhancements because of the existance of telephone equip- ment and systems now being offered by numerous vendors. A legal opinion has been requested from the City Attorney in regard to the City's present procedures for procurement of telephone services. The Users Committee also recommend that an independent qualified Tele- communications Consultant develop the Master Telecommunications Plan. RFP specifications were developed and released in June, 1982. RFP ANALYSIS AND EVALUATIONS A total of eight proposals were received July 19, 1982, for qualification of an independent telecommunications consultant to develop a City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan. The eight proposals were from the following: 1. TCS Communications Consultants 2. Communications Sciences, Inc. 3. Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. 4. Virginia Communications Associates, Inc. 5. Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. 6. Hancock & Hannon, Inc. 7. Gordon F. MacPherson, Jr. 8. Southern Bell Telephone Company The RFP specifications defined criteria for consultant selection. A sample statement of work and plan were requested. Proposals were evaluated based upon these factors. The following four proposals were deemed unqualified: 1. COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.: Did not meet the criteria of paragraph 2-E whereas, consultant shall not be affiliated with any po- tential vendor or show any bias toward any particular interconnect company. This company does offer telephone equipment and services. PAGE 2 of 5 ' 83--115) t 1► Howard V. Gary Resolution on Selection of a City Manager Telecommunications Consultant 2. SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY: Did not offer a proposal and protested the criteria as defined in paragrph 2-E (as quoted in item 1). 3. VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATED, INC.: Did not qualify because of limited resources and experience in this particular technology. Only one resume was offered and a poor sample statement of work and plan was presented. 4. GORDON F. MacPHERSON, JR.: A single consultant company with very limited resources and capabilities. The sample statement of work and plan was inadequate and did not meet paragraphs 2 and 3 of the RFP specifications. The remaining four proposals were deemed qualified. Further analysis and grading of each proposal, established the selections of the following: COMMUNICATIONS SCIENCES, INC. TCS COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON, INC. HANCOCK & HANNON Hancock and Hannon was eliminated because of their limited exposure to require- ments of local government telecommunications. The Selection Committee, the Department of Building and Vehicle Maintenance and the Department of Computers, decided to meet with the remaining three consultants. Each consultant was given two hours for presentations. After meeting with each firm, it was decided by the Selection Committee, that the Master Telecommunications Plan be developed in phases because of initial budget restraintsr(35,000.00 max.). The following plan was adopted: PHASE I - would include a preliminary analysis of the City's existing tele- communications system, estimation of the benefits and costs associated with competitive bidding for telecommunications equipment and services, and pre- sentation of resulting recommendations to the City Commission. PHASE II - would be a more detailed analysis of the existing system, identi- fication of the City's current and future needs, and identification of feasible telecommunications system configurations that would meet the City's requirements over time. The objective of this phase would be to develop a comprehensive Master Telecommunications Plan for the City. The priority and sequence of system installations within the City's facilities would be identified as a part of the Master Plan. PAGE 3 of 5 F,3—J11L1.Z15, t T Howard V. Gary Resolution on Selection of a City Manager Telecommunications Consultant PHASE III - would include preparation of specifications and requests for proposals for high priority system installation, technical and financial analysis of system proposals, and system recommendations based on the pro- posal evaluations. Each firm was instructed to provide a statement of work and bid based upon Phase I activities by September 15, 19B2. Communications Sciences, Inc. and TCS Communications bids and proposals were received on time. Booze, Allen & Hamilton proposal was received September 21, 1982. Communications Sciences, Inc., submitted a proposal for Phase I which offered the most product returned for a maximum bid of $35,000.00. Communications Sciences, Inc., offers the City many advantages which include: 1. Local Company. 2. Knowledge of local Southern Bell Telephone systems. 3. Heavy experience in local government telecommunications systems. 4. Excellent recommendations from past and present clients including Broward County and the City of Tampa, Florida. 5. Large company and excellant staff with nationwide support from other divisions. TCS Communications, submitted an excellent proposal and plan for the $35,000.00 maximum bid. TCS Communications offers the City the following: 1. Very competent staff with high level of telecommunications technology. 2. Small company with a complete understanding of local government tele- communications requirements and economics of telephone systems. 3. Definitive plan of Phase I with goals and objectives clearly defined. Booze, Allen & Hamilton submitted a vague proposal for Phase I. Booze, Allen & Hamilton offers the following advantages: 1. Knowledge of the City of Miami operations. 2. Large company with a high level staff of advanced degrees. RECOMMENDATIONS It is the opinion of the Selection Committee that all three consulting firms are highly qualified and can provide the services required to develop a Master City -Wide Telecommunications Plan. Based upon initial proposals, presentations and final proposals, the following order of section was established: PAGE 4 of 5 83-115 t M Howard V. Gary City Manager 1. Communications Sciences, Inc. 2. TCS Communications Consultants 3. Booze, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Resolution on Selection of a Telecommunications Consultant C � It is recommended that the City Commission select,1 by resolution, one of three frims listed above. FUNDING Funding for this project has been budgeted under CIP funds, Project Number 350062, Index Code 460302-240 (Coordinated City -Wide Telecommunications System). PAGE 5 of 5 83-115- q\ r CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA _ 55 INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO Howard V. Gary DATE- January 24, 1983 FNLE City Manager SUBJECT: Resolution on Selection of a Telecommunications Consultant FROAC C REFERENCES: Building & Ve cle Maintenance Department ENCLOSURES. BACKGROUND It was decided by the Users Committee that a need exists for a City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide the City with a recommended plan of action for upgrading present and future telecommunication services as required by City users. In order to maintain efficient modern communications between and within the City departments, the public, and other agencies, a definitive City - Wide Telecommunications plan must be developed and adhered to in the future. The plan must be realistic with options based upon flexibility, equipment availability, initial cost considerations, maintenance and life cycle costs. All telephone and data communication services for the City of Miami are presently being supplied by Southern Bell Telephone Company, which includes the following: 1. CENTREX System with 1380 lines to 90 city facilities of which 15 are major facilities. 2. 356 special circuits for radio control, data and other special applications. 3. Common carrier equipment and trunks for emergency 911 system. City Telephone Service has become increasingly deficient due to the ever in- creasing and changing of organizational structures, functions and growth. Most departments have a high degree of public contact. The Centrex System was implemented in 1975 and at the present time, offers a minimally acceptable level of service and growth potential. Annual budget for FY '83 will exceed $1.3 million for City -Wide Telephone and Data Services. The recent Supreme Court's decision and subsequent reorganization of the Telephone Company into independent service and sales companies impacts the City and its existing procurement policies with the Telephone Company. An analysis is required to determine to what extent revenues the City derives from franchise and utility taxes are effected. It is essential that all aspects of the Telephone Company's reorganization and its effect upon present and future City telephone requirements, service and revenue impact be thoroughly investigated and documented into a Master Plan. \4 PAGE 1 of 5 83-115 f, I, Howard V. Gary Resolution on Selection of a City Manager Telecommunications Consultant It will now be necessary to competitively bid for the telephone installations. Expansion and enhancement of the existing Centrex system can be accomplished without competitive bidding if the cost is less than $4,500.00. This is en- compassed in the legal opinion rendered by the City Attorney in regard to the City's present procedures for procurement of telephone service. (Reference attached opinion from the City Attorney.) The Users Committee also recommend that an independent qualified Telecommuni- cations Consultant develop the Master Telecommunications Plan. RFP specifications were developed and released in June, 1982. RFP ANALYSIS AND EVALUATIONS A total of eight proposals were received July 19, 1982, for qualification of an independent telecommunications consultant to develop a City -Wide Master Telecommunications Plan. The eight proposals were from the following: 1. TCS Communications Consultants 2. Communications Sciences, Inc. 3. Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. 4. Virginia Communications Associates, Inc. 5. Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. 6. Hancock & Hannon, Inc. 7. Gordon F. MacPherson, Jr. 8. Southern Bell Telephone Company The RFP specifications defined criteria for consultant selection. A sample statement of work and plan were requested. Proposals were evaluated based upon these factors. The following four proposals were deemed unqualified: 1. COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.: Did not meet the criteria of paragraph 2-E whereas, consultant shall not be affiliated with any po- tential vendor or show any bias toward any particular interconnect company. This company does offer telephone equipment and services. Page 2 of 5 83--11 i F Howard V. Gary Resolution on Selection of a City Manager Telecommunications Consultant 2. SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY: Did not offer a proposal and protested the criteria as defined in paragraph 2-E (as quoted in item 1). 3. VIRGINIA COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATED, INC: Did not qualify because of invited resources and experience in this particular technology. Only one resume was offered and a poor sample statement of work and plan was presented. 4. GORDON F. MacPHERSON, JR.: A single consultant company with very limited resources and capabilities. The sample statement of work and plan was inadequate and did not meet paragraph 2 and 3 of the RFP specifications. The remaining four proposals were deemd qualified. Further analysis and grading of each proposal, established the selections of the following: COMMUNICATIONS SCIENCES, INC. TCS C0MMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON, INC. HANCOCK & HANNON Hancock and Hannon was eliminated because of their limited exposure to require- ments of local government telecommunications. The Selection Committee, the Department of Building and Vehicle Maintenance and the Department of Computers, decided to meet with the remaining three consultants. Each consultant was given two hours for presentations. After meeting with each firm, it was decided by the Selection Committee, that the Master Telecommunications Plan be developed in phases because of initial budget restraints ($35,000.00 max.). The following plan was adopted: PHASE I - would include a preliminary analysis of the City's existing tele- communications system, estimation of the benefits and costs associated with competitive bidding for telecommunications equipment and services, and pre- sentation of resulting recommendations to the City Commission. PHASE II - would be a more detailed analysis of the existing system, identi- fication of the City's current and future needs, and identification of feasible telecommunications system configurations that would meet the City's requirements over time. The objective of this phase would be to develop a comprehensive Master Telecommunications Plan for the City. The priority and sequence of system installations within the City's facilities would be indentified as a part of the Master Plan. PAGE 3 of 5 83-115 Howard V. Gary Resolution of Selection of a City Manager Telecommunications Consultant PHASE III - would include preparation of specifications and requests for proposals for high priority system installation, technical and financial analysis of system proposals, and system recommendations based on the pro- posal evaluations. Each firm was instructed to provide a statement of work and bid based upon Phase I activities by September, 1982. Communications Sciences, Inc. and TCS Communications bids and proposals were received on time. Booz, Allen & Hamilton proposal was received September 21, 1982. Communications Sciences, Inc., submitted a proposal for Phase I which offered the most product returned for a maximum bid of $35,000.00. Communications Sciences, Inc., offers the City many advantages which include: 1. Local Company. 2. Knowledge of local Southern Bell Telephone systems. 3. Heavy experience in local government telecommunications systems. 4. Excellent recommendations from past and present clients including Broward County and the City of Tampa, Florida. 5. Large company and excellent staff with nationwide support from other divisions. TCS Communications, submitted an excellent proposal and plan for the $35,000.00 maximum bid. TCS Communications offers the City the following: 1. Very competent staff with high level of telecommunications technology. 2. Small company with a complete understanding of local government tele- communications requirements and economics of telephone systems. 3. Definitive plan of Phase I with goals and objectives clearly defined. Booz, Allen & Hamilton submitted a vague proposal for Phase I. Booz, Allen & Hamilton offers the following advantages: 1. Knowledge of the City of Miami operations. 2. Large company with a high level staff of advanced degrees. RECOMMENDATIONS It is the opinion of the Selection Committee that all three consulting firms are highly qualified and can provide the services required to develop a Master City -Wide telecommunications Plan. Based upon initial proposals, presentations and final proposals, the following order of selection was established: PAGE 4 of 5 f 1 Howard V. Gary City Manager 1. Communications Sciences, Inc. 2. TCS Communications Consultants 3. Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Resolution on Selection of a Telecommunications Consultant It is recommended that the City Commission select, by resolution, one of three firms listed above. FUNDING Funding for this project has been budgeted under CIP funds, Project Number 350062, Index Code 460302-240 (Coordinated City -Wide Telecommunications System). PAGE 5 of 5 83-ii5 f 11 �REVVd—fti V CU MIAMI, FLORIDA 6TY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA NOV 2 31982 INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM OFFICE OF DIRECTOR DE. T. OF BUILDING ANIP C.E. Cox, Director Building & Vehicle Maintenance ROM �&vwz;` .IZ Jose R. Garcia -Pedrosa OATS: FILE - November 19, 1982 MIA-82-58 SUBJECT: A-18 90 Legal Opinion Regarding Telecommunications Services REFERENCES: ENCLOSURES: Your request for a legal opinion raises two questions in essentially the following form: (I) CAN THE CITY OF MIAMI REQUEST ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE TO THE EXISTING CENTREX SYSTEM FROM THE TELEPHONE COMPANY WITHOUT COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING? (II) WHERE THE CITY REQUIRES NEW INSTALLATIONS OF TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, NOT A PART OF THE EXISTING CENTREX SYSTEM, WILL COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING BE REQUIRED? Question I is answered in the negative in non -emergency cases involving $4,500.00 or more, unless the City Manager follows the charter procedures to waive competitive sealed bidding by making a written finding with specified reasons that competitive sealed bidding is not practicable or not advantageous to the City, which finding must be ratified by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Commission after a properly advertised public hearing. Question II is answered in the affirmative in non -emer- gency cases unless the procedure to waive competitive sealed bidding outlined above is complied with, or unless the addi- tional equipment or services involve less than $4,500.00. DISCUSSION In light of the recent election at which the voters of the City of Miami approved new charter provisions relating to procurement, we will analyze the requirements pursuant to the Charter as amended. In addition, there will be an implement- ing ordinance which is in the process of being drafted and has not yet been adopted by the City Commission. Therefore, any conclusions premised on the implementing ordinance are tenta- tive. L3--11 i I Mr. C. E. Cox, Director -2- November 19, 1982 Charter provision Section 53(a) dealing with procure- ment of personal property reads as follows: (a) Personal Property. Any personal property, including but not limited to supplies, equipment, mate- rials and printed matter; may be obtained by contract or through City labor and materials as provided by ordinance. All contracts for more than four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, after public notice and using such compe- titive sealed bidding methods as may be prescribed by ordinance, but the city manager or his designee shall have the power to reject all bids. Notwithstand- ing the foregoing, the city manager may waive competitive sealed bidding methods by making a written finding that competi- tive sealed bidding is not practicable or not advantageous to the city, which find- ing must be ratified by an affirmative vote cf two-thirds of the commission after a properly advertised public hear- ing. When competitive sealed bidding methods are waived, other procurement methods as may be prescribed by ordinance shall be followed. All invitations for bids, requests for proposals or other solicitations shall contain a reservation of the foregoing right to reject all offers. Contracts for personal property shall be signed by the city manager or his designee after approval thereof by the commission. This section shall not apply to transfers to the United States, or any department or agency thereof, to the State of Florida or any political subdivision or agency thereof." Charter provision Section 3(f)(ii) dealing with services, reads as follows: ;i I Mr. C. E. Cox, Director -3- November 19, 1982 The City of Miami shall have power: * � r (ii) to acquire or dispose of by pur- chase, gift or otherwise services within or without the city and for any purposes of.the city. ' By way of background, you have indicated that the City utilizes a centralized switching network (Centrex) which can accommodate most of the City's telephone needs. Presently, the City acquires Centrex by leasing the equipment on a monthly basis from Southern Bell, including maintenance and repair service. You have further advised that the equipment which Southern Bell furnishes may be either leased or bought outright from other sources and that installation and mainte- nance service is available through contractors other than Southern Bell. To this extent, you have indicated that South- ern Bell is not a single source for providing this equipment and service, although the contrary was true in the past. Other equipment provided by Southern Bell includes data lines, radio control lines, and phone units which are also available from other sources. We have also been advised that Dade County competitively procures telephone equipment including Centrex and that a similar recommendation was made in March, 1982 to the City of Jacksonville in 4 report of the Duval County Grand Jury. Of special note, is the grand jury finding that within the is telecommunications field there a "viable, competitive marketplace within which the City has access to the benefits of the competitive bidding process, i.e. achieving its best quality at its lowest price". The rationale and public policy behind competitive acqui- sition on a competitive basis is the protection of the public to secure the best results at the lowest price and to forestall fraud, favoritism, and corruption in the making of public con- tracts. This was enunciated by Supreme Court of Florida, in the longstanding case of Wester v. Belote, 138 So. 721 (1931): Laws of this kind requiring contracts to be let to the lowest bidder are based 83--115 I 12, Mr. C. E. Cox, Director -4- November 19, 1982 upon public economy, are of great impor- tance to the taxpayers, and ought not to be frittered away by exceptions. They originated, perhaps, in distrust of public officers whose duty it is to make public contracts, but they also serve the purpose of affording to the business men and taxpayers of the counties and other governmental subdivisions affected by them a fair opportunity to participate in the benefits flowing from such con- tracts... The above -quoted Charter provisions establish a threshold of $4500.00, below which competitive sealed bidding is not re- quired. In addition, emergency purchases are likewise except by current Code provisions. These provisions do not delineate procedures for the procurement of services, which is a matter being addressed in the implementing ordinance being drafted. As currently drafted (but not approved), that ordinance also establishes a $4500.00 threshold below which competitive sealed bidding is not required. Prepared by: n J pel , Jr. Assistant Cit Attorney JJC/wpc/1-G cc: Howard V. Gary, City Manager 83-115