DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Ratification of a Contract for the Replacement of Power Regulating Equipment at the San Antonio Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Building
SUMMARY:
An ordinance ratifying a contract with Big State Electric, LTD in the amount of $126,920.00 to replace power regulating equipment for the San Antonio Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) building. Funding available in the FY 2019 ITSD Infrastructure Lifecycle Replacement Project and included in the FY 2019 - FY 2024 Capital Improvement Program. This contract was procured citing a Public Health and Safety exemption according to the provisions of Texas Statutes Local Government Code 252.022.02.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Call Center is located on Brooks City Base on the South East side of San Antonio. This building houses 911 call taking/support personnel and supporting systems utilized to support public safety E911 support operations. The PSAP supports the emergency dispatch services for SAPD and SAFD. The center receives and dispatches information to SAPD and SAFD first responders through 911 calls for assistance via radio operations and through the City’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Additionally, the PSAP houses the 911 phone network core and also feeds calls to surrounding Comal, Guadalupe, and Medina counties.
On May 22, 2019 a catastrophic failure of the static transfer switch (STS) occurred. The switch is part of the facility’s emergency electrical power system located within the PSAP building and the failure resulted in a temporary electrical outage at the PSAP 911 Call Center. Based on the severity of the outage, it was determined that support personnel from the 911 Call Center were to be temporarily relocated to the Bexar Metro Regional Operations Center. Based on discussions from internal support teams and third-party engineering resources, it was determined that the failed STS required replacement. Based on this recommendation, the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) and the City's Building Equipment Services Department (BESD) secured a final quote from Big State Electric, LTD to replace the existing STS as well as adding additional electrical distribution system in support of future STS maintenance activities.
Submitted for Council consideration and action is the ratification of a contract with Big State Electric, LTD in the amount of $126,920.00, to replace power regulating equipment for the San Antonio PSAP building. These services were procured citing a Public Health and Safety exemption according to the provisions of Texas Statutes Local Government Code 252.022.02.
ISSUE:
This action will ratify a contract with Big State Electric, LTD in the amount of $126,920.00 to replace power regulating equipment for the San Antonio PSAP building. Because this building serves as the answering point for emergency dispatch services, it was imperative to complete this installation in advance of City Council action.
This contract is an exception to the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) and Local Preference Programs.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program does not apply to goods/supplies contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, the Information Technology Services Department could have delayed the necessary work and processed a competitive solicitation; however, without the replacement of the STS, the building power regulation equipment would lack the required redundancy to continue safe operation, should there be a commercial outage. This lack of redundancy could cause further damage to building power regulating or PSAP 911 specific equipment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the ratification of a contract with Big State Electric, LTD in the amount of $126,920.00 to replace power regulating equipment for the San Antonio PSAP building. Funding in the amount of $126,920.00 available in the FY 2019 ITSD Infrastructure Lifecycle Replacement Project and included in the FY 2019 - FY 2024 Capital Improvement Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends ratification of a contract with Big State Electric, LTD in the amount of $126,920.00 to replace power regulating equipment for the San Antonio PSAP building.
This contract was procured on the basis of a Public Health and Safety Exemption and a Contracts Disclosure form is not required.