REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 25, 2024
FROM
PETE MENDOZA, Director, Purchasing Department
SUBJECT
Title
Wireless Communication Services and Products
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve participation with the following wireless communication carriers through the Participating Addendums under the National Association of Procurement Officers Wireless, Voice, Data & Accessories Contracts with the State of Utah for the periods listed below:
a. T-Mobile USA, Inc., Master Agreement No. 176, February 12, 2024, through August 11, 2029
b. AT&T Corp, Master Agreement No. 149, March 14, 2024, through August 11, 2029
c. Verizon Wireless, Master Agreement No. 152, April 2, 2024, through August 11, 2029
2. Authorize the Purchasing Agent, subject to review by County Counsel, to execute the Participating Addendums related to the participation in the National Association of State Procurement Officers Wireless Voice, Data & Accessories Contracts.
(Presenter: Pete Mendoza, Director, 387-2073)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The aggregate annual cost for wireless communication services and equipment is approximately $4.6 million. Departments that require wireless communication services and products are responsible for ensuring adequate funding is included in their respective budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of this action will enable the County to acquire wireless communication services and products that best meet departmental requirements through participation in the National Association of State Procurement Officers’ (NASPO) Wireless Voice, Data & Accessories Contracts. NASPO Valuepoint is a cooperative purchasing program that helps facilitate public procurement and provides the best overall value and competitive pricing options due to its collective purchasing power.
After a competitive process conducted by the State of Utah as the lead agency, new NASPO Wireless Voice, Data & Accessories Contracts were awarded (Utah NASPO Agreements) to T-Mobile USA, Inc. (T-Mobile), Verizon Wireless, and Sprint Solutions, Inc. (Sprint). In previous years, the State of California Chief Procurement Officer would approve participation on behalf of the State of California, political subdivisions and other eligible entities, and the State of California signed the Participating Addendums for each carrier. The County established a Participating Addendum directly with each of the carriers as NASPO requires non-State entities wanting to participate in NASPO contracts to obtain authorization from their state.
At the end of 2020, the State of California placed a temporary moratorium on allowing non-State entities to sign Participating Addendums and would not provide an authorization letter to participate in the Utah NASPO Agreements. Therefore, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile executed an amendment to NASPO Master Contract No. 1907, under which the County is currently receiving wireless communication services, extending the contract termination date from December 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021. On December 15, 2020 (Item No. 61), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved ongoing participation with wireless communication carriers through Participating Agreements under NASPO Master Contract No. 1907 for the period of January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021. As part of the same action, the Board also approved participation in National Association of State Procurement Officers Wireless Voice, Data, & Accessories Contract Master Agreement (MA) No. 149-1 with AT&T Mobility for the period of January 1, 2021 through August 11, 2024. On February 5, 2021, the State of California provided authorization to the County to establish Participating Addendums with the carriers providing services through the Utah NASPO Agreements.
Pricing under the Utah NASPO Agreements is based on a discount specific to each carrier and research was conducted to ensure pricing is less than current market rates. The Utah NASPO Agreements also include a provision allowing employees to activate wireless service for personal use at a discounted rate with no financial responsibility to the County. Any participating entity may cancel its participation upon 30 days written notice. Participation in cooperative contracts with wireless carriers does not preclude the County from conducting its own solicitation or from utilizing other cooperative contracts that may be available with additional carriers.
Recommendation No. 1 will allow the County to continue to participate in the NASPO MAs through August 11, 2029, as extended by the State of Utah for: T-Mobile, MA No. 176 on February 12, 2024; AT&T, MA No. 149 on March 14, 2024, and Verizon MA No. 152 on April 2, 2024.
Recommendation No. 2 will authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any documentation necessary to participate in the NASPO Wireless Voice, Data & Accessories MA Contracts.
PROCUREMENT
The State of Utah is the appointed lead agency for purposes of conducting a competitive procurement and, in collaboration with NASPO, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) Utah Solicitation No. CJ18012 on August 13, 2018, for the award period of 2019 through 2024. On April 4, 2019, the State of Utah, appointed lead agency, issued award notices for the new NASPO Wireless Voice, Data & Accessories Contracts.
Part of the terms state that the MA may be extended beyond the original contract period for up to Five additional years. On February 12, 2024, the State of Utah extended the T-Mobile MA No. 176 for the period of 2024 through 2029. On March 14, 2024, the State of Utah extended the AT&T, MA No. 149 for the period of 2024 through 2029. On April 2, 2024, the State of Utah extended the Verizon contract, MA No. 152 for the period of 2024 through 2029. All documents related to the RFP, awarding, and amendments of the contracts are published on the NASPO website: NASPOVALUEPOINT.ORG.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 30, 2024; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on June 5, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on June 10, 2024.