DEPARTMENT: ITSD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Hugh Miller
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Consulting Services for Audit of Telecommunications Billing
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the ratification of a contract with Carolyn Arnold Communications Consultant, Inc., for services rendered during the contract period and completed after contract expiration in the amount of $64,492.25 to provide the Information Technology Services Department with telecommunications billing and audit services during a period that was past the contract period approved by City Council through Ordinance 2009-10-29-0868. Funding is available from the FY2015 Information Technology Services Department Operating Fund.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for Council consideration and action is the ratification of a contract with Carolyn Arnold Communications Consultant, Inc., (CACC) for services rendered during the contract period and completed after contract expiration in the amount of $64,492.25 to provide the Information Technology Services Department with telecommunications billing and audit services during a period that was past the contract period approved by City Council.
Telecommunications service bills are typically voluminous documents with many pages of data that include industry- and carrier-specific terminology, codes, fees, and terms and conditions for service. In order to properly review and verify correct billing for services, the reviewer must have a mastery of several interrelated disciplines including, among others, an intimate understanding of telecommunications networks, carrier billing system operations, telecommunications services marketing, industry terminology, and federal and state telecommunications tariffs and regulations.
The industry standard for telecommunications audit and recovery contracts is a 50/50 split of the funds recovered. At the time that services were rendered, the City was operating under a bridge contract meanwhile a new contract was solicited and awarded. The services described in this ratification request were performed during the period of the bridge contract; however, the total amount exceeded the contract amount without further City Council action. The contract with CACC provided the City with 60% of the recovered funds and the consultant received 40%. Other municipalities in Texas and other States are currently contracting at the industry standard of 50% of funds recovered. During the contract term, the City recovered $161,230.60, of which $64,492.25 is owed to the consultant.
ISSUE:
This ordinance will ratify the contract with Carolyn Arnold Communications Consultant, Inc., for services rendered during the contract period and completed after contract expiration in the amount of $64,492.25 to provide the Information Technology Services Department with telecommunications billing and audit services during a period that was past the contract period approved by City Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the services not have been performed, the City would have realized an overpayment for telecommunication services in the amount of $161,230.60. Since this work has been done, a competitive solicitation has been awarded by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the ratification of a contract with Carolyn Arnold Communications Consultant, Inc., that provided telecommunications billing and audit services for the Information Technology Services Department. Funding is available from the FY 2015 Information Technology Services Department Operating Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of action to ratify the contract with Carolyn Arnold Communications Consultant, Inc., in the amount of $64,492.25 that provided telecommunications billing and audit services for the Information Technology Services Department.