Pursuant to Section 3-3.14 of the City Code of Ordinances, the City approved a contract with AT&T in the amount of $111,600 to maintain citywide lines, circuits, DSL, mega links ("Internet & Voice Bundle Services").

The previous contract with AT&T for PRI Circuits expired on July 19, 2021, and staff re-negotiated a new contract with AT&T for SIP Circuits which allows for enhanced communications, future growth, and reduced costs.

This is an essential government service and the new contract provides for the purchase of AT&T’s Internet & Voice Bundle Services in an amount not to exceed $111,600.00.

Section 3-4.5 (f.) of the City’s Code of Ordinances provides that formal bidding waiver. Purchases for which formal bidding has been waived, as determined by the City Commission to be in the best interest of the City. Purchases of, and contracts for, supplies or services shall be exempt from competitive bidding/competitive proposals with a five-sevenths (5/7) affirmative vote of the City Commission declaring the waiver of competitive bidding/competitive proposals to be in the best interests of the City.

Section 3-3.14 of the City’s Code of Ordinances provides that contracts in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) shall be awarded by the City Commission.

The City Manager, Chief Information Officer and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that the Mayor and City Commission waive competitive bidding requirements, and ratify the new contract with AT&T in order to continue to provide telecommunication services, including, but not limited to, telephone and fax, and internet services for various City locations.

All funding for these programs will come from the funds received from City Department’s Budget as allocated annually during the annual budget appropriation process.