HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Payment to Iowa State University to Purchase a New Radio System RESOLUTION NO. 19-302
RESOLUTION APPROVING PAYMENT TO IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY TO
PURCHASE A NEW RADIO SYSTEM
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS,for several year's City staff have been working to replace the existing and aging
voice radio system that serves all City departments and most of the public entity radio users in Story
County, including all emergency responders; and,
WHEREAS, in December 2018, the Council authorized the City's participation in
StoryComm, and entity created by a 28E Agreement with Iowa State University, Story County,and
the Story County 911 Service Board to own and operate a new radio system; and,
WHEREAS,as part of that Agreement,Iowa States University's Procurement Services was
delegated the task of developing an RFP, implementing a purchasing process, and negotiating a
purchase contract; and,
WHEREAS, in February of 2019, Council authorized the City's representative on the
StoryComm Board to move forward on a contract with RACOM Corp. for a new radio system"if
the terms and conditions of the contract remain within performance and financial expectation,"and
in May 2019, StoryComm entered into a contract with RACOM Corp.; and,
WHEREAS, the contract with RACOM Corp. covers construction of the radio system
infrastructure(towers,tower equipment,radio consoles for the Communication Center,and similar
equipment) and the purchase of the radios; and,
WHEREAS, Iowa State University agreed to serve as the fiscal agent for StoryComm and
is preparing an Agreement for consideration by the StoryComm Board; and,
WHEREAS,in the role of fiscal agent,Iowa State University will receive invoices on behalf
of StoryComm,pay those invoices, and then rebill the participating agencies for their share of the
costs; and,
WHEREAS, City staff anticipates that Iowa State University will serve in this role into the
future and they will charge a fee for these services, and their initial proposal appears to be fair and
equitable with a reasonable hourly rate,a not-to-exceed cap,and a processing fee that will eventually
be passed on to radio subscribers, and until this Agreement is finalized, StoryComm is using Iowa
State University's accounting services on an interim basis; and,
WHEREAS, due to the interim nature of this accounting relationship, staff is requesting
approval for the first radio payment to be made to Iowa State University, and once StoryComm
reaches a final agreement on accounting terms, these payments will be made pursuant to existing
City purchasing policies and the final Agreement for StoryComm accounting services; and,
WHEREAS,the RACOM contract provides that the first invoices are due at,or shortly after,
contract signing and the first invoices have arrived at Iowa State University with the City's share
being $182,776 for infrastructure and$166,329 for radios, for a total of$349,105.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the payment of $349,105 to Iowa State University to meet the City's current StoryComm
obligation under the radio system contract with RACOM Corp., is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 25"'day of June, 2019.
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Diane . Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Corrieri
Seconded by: Gartin
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Martin,Nelson
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 25t' day of June, 2019.