To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Contract with Aviat, U.S.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Information Officer or designee to execute a contract with Aviat U.S., Inc. in an amount not to exceed $270,000 to provide radio and microwave equipment and for installation services to establish a data connection from the Department of Information Technology to a disaster recovery site in the Port of Stockton for the period of September 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost for this contract is included in the FY 24-25 Department of Information Technology budget. 100% General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Information Technology maintains and operates the County’s primary data center providing critical services to the County that must be continuously available in the event of a natural disaster including earthquakes, fire and floods. In late 2022, the County started researching possible locations that could serve as a disaster recovery site as we did not currently have a viable disaster recovery center. After considering many different factors such as a low monthly fixed cost, and guaranteed 100% uptime, the County selected Nautilus Data Technologies, Inc. which is built on a floating barge that is permanently docked at the Port of Stockton in San Joaquin County. The County now needs to create a connection to the site which is necessary for data transfer for systemwide back-up and restoral.
The County’s broader microwave system, including all public safety communication, is comprised solely of Aviat equipment which has been configured by Aviat over the last four (4) decades. To complete the connection with the Nautilus center at the Port of Stockton, equipment will need to be installed on the existing Kregor Peak tower located between the cities of Clayton and Pittsburg. 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 system as the Aviat equipment is propriety and does not connect with other brands of equipment. This new spur connection will become part of the overall public safety communication microwave ring which connects land-mobile radio coverage throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The Contractor will be paid based on the successful completion of set milestones. Aviat is a sole source procurement for this system and will be procured with funds from the Microwave Upgrade Project in collaboration with the County Administrator’s Office and Public Works.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this item is not approved, we will not be able to transmit data to our offsite disaster recovery location.