To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Contract Amendment with Aviat, U.S., Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Information Officer, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Aviat U.S., Inc. to increase the payment limit by $180,000 to a new payment limit of $1,300,000 to complete installation of communication equipment on towers within the County’s communication ring and extend the contract term through September 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost has been budgeted from General Fund Capital Reserves. 100% General Fund Capital Reserves.
BACKGROUND:
On December 12, 2023, the Board approved a contract with Aviat U.S., Inc. for Phase II of the upgrade to the communications equipment in the existing Contra Costa microwave ring path for radio traffic and data for its public communications system which supports public safety connectivity for Contra Costa County, the East Bay Regional Communication Systems Authority, and the East Bay Regional Park District for the term of December 1, 2023, through May 31, 2025. Phase II of this project was to upgrade the “hops” or interconnecting sites within the ring. This is the final phase of the Constellation Loop Project, which began in August 2022. To complete the project, some additional equipment was required. As such, the final milestone, Acceptance and Final Sign-Off, is expected by August 2025.
This contract amendment is an extension of a sole source procurement as the County’s microwave system is comprised solely of Aviat brand equipment and was configured by Aviat over four (4) decades ago. All public safety equipment within the broader communication ring is also run on Aviat equipment. Other manufacturers do not have the equipment nor the expertise to provide the microwave equipment necessary to connect to the County’s communication system. Like goods are not compatible with the current system as the Aviat equipment is propriety and does not connect with other brands of equipment. The microwave ring path connects land-mobile radio coverage and is an integral part of the public communications system and cannot be disrupted.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this item is not approved, the County will not be able to compensate the Contractor for completion of this long-term project.