To: Board of Supervisors
From: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Report Title: AT&T, Inc. for Cisco Systems, Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RESCIND prior Board action (24-3827) from November 12, 2024, which approved and authorized the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Sheriff-Coroner, a purchase order with AT&T, Corp., a third-party vendor of Cisco Systems, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $368,862, for catalyst routers, switches and associated software and support, for the term August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2029; and
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Sheriff-Coroner, a purchase order with AT&T, Corp., a third-party vendor of Cisco Systems, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $355,641, for catalyst routers, switches and associated software and support, and agree to the AT&T Business Service Guide terms, for the term August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in a one-time expenditure of $355,641 and will be funded 96% by UASI Grant FY22 and 4% by the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Office of the Sheriff’s wide-area network (WAN) is comprised of Cisco networking equipment (routers, switches, and SFPs) and is managed by the Cisco DNA software. There are more than 25 locations within the Sheriff’s Office (SO) that need to be connected to the SO network. Some of the smaller locations are operating on networking equipment that is over 20 years old. That equipment, specifically the Cisco 3000 series switches, is no longer manufactured, sold or supported by Cisco. The locations with outdated equipment need to be upgraded to the current 9000 series switches to meet our present security, capacity, and performance needs. Cisco network products are the industry standard. All Contra Costa County departments, including the Office of the Sheriff, use Cisco equipment. For product and support consistency, the department prefers buying the latest Cisco network equipment.
On November 12, 2024 the Board of Supervisors approved the Purchasing Agent to execute a purchase order with AT&T, Corp. a third-party vendor of Cisco Systems, Inc. The purchase was to be made pursuant to the 2021 letter agreement between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Contra Costa County. However, AT&T insisted the purchase also be made pursuant to the AT&T, Corp. Service Guide. The amount of the purchase has also been updated.
This purchase is made pursuant to both the 2021 letter agreement between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Contra Costa County and the AT&T, Corp. Service Guide. The AT&T, Corp. Service Guide terms obligate the County to indemnify AT&T and Cisco against liability, for claims arising out of or resulting from any misrepresentation or breach of the terms of the Cisco equipment migration plan.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Board does not approve, the existing outdated hardware will not be supported, exposing the SO network to potential cybersecurity threats. In addition, the network could face significant downtime should any of this equipment fail, crippling our functionality and potentially endangering public safety.