30 June 2021

Half-A-Million Bucks For What > CONTRACT AWARD to Sentinel Technologies

Stay Alert. Ask more questions.
The devil's in the details - and we don't know much about this from the sketchy details provided in the Council Report
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File #:21-0718   
Type:ContractStatus:Agenda Ready
In control:City Council
On agenda:7/1/2021
Title:

Purchase of Outdoor Wireless Access Points (Replacement) for the Department of Innovation and Technology (Smart Cities Initiative) (Citywide)
The City currently provides free public Wi-Fi in the downtown district, libraries, parks, and pools.
The current outdoor system has reached end-of-life and replacement is needed.
With the new development in Downtown Mesa, the project will also expand the service area, as well as work with residents and businesses to ensure the service meets the needs of the community working in, living in, and visiting downtown, parks, and pool facilities.
Department of Innovation and Technology and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the NCPA cooperative contract and the lowest quoted vendor, Sentinel Technologies, at $539,075, based on estimated requirements.
This purchase is funded by Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Attachments:1. Council Report
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RELATED CONTENT
Public Wi-Fi Risks and Why You Don't Have to Fear Them | Kaspersky

How to Avoid Public WiFi Security Risks

Wi-Fi users are at risk from hackers, but fortunately there are safeguards against them. The recent explosion of free, public Wi-Fi has been an enormous boon for working professionals. Since these free access points are available at restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and even random retail outlets, you are rarely more than a short trip away from access to your network, and your work. This freedom comes at a price, though, and few truly understand the public Wi-Fi risks associated with these connections.

The Risks of a Public Wi-fi

The same features that make free Wi-Fi hotspots desirable for consumers make them desirable for hackers... the  hacker has access to every piece of information you're sending out on the Internet: important emails, credit card information and even security credentials to your business network. Once the hacker has that information, he can — at his leisure — access your systems as if he were you.

Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer.

Turn Off Sharing

When connecting to the Internet at a public place, you're unlikely to want to share anything. You can turn off sharing from the system preferences or Control Panel, depending on your OS, or let Windows turn it off for you by choosing the "Public" option the first time you connect to a new, unsecured network.

Keep Wi-Fi Off When You Don't Need It

Even if you haven't actively connected to a network, the Wi-Fi hardware in your computer is still transmitting data between any network within range. . .

Stay Protected

Even individuals who take all the possible public Wi-Fi security precautions are going to run across issues from time to time. It's just a fact of life in this interconnected age. That's why it's imperative to keep a robust Internet security solution installed and running on your machine. These solutions can constantly run a malware scan on your files, and will always scan new files as they are downloaded. . .

 
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COUNCIL REPORT
City Council Report 
Date: July 1, 2021 
To: City Council 
Through: Michael Kennington, Chief Financial Officer 
From: Edward Quedens, Business Services Director 
Matt Bauer, Procurement Administrator 
Subject: Purchase of Outdoor Wireless Access Points (Replacement) for the Department of Innovation and Technology (Smart Cities Initiative) (Citywide) 
 
Purpose and Recommendation 
Council is requested to approve the purchase as recommended. Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the NCPA cooperative contract and the lowest quoted vendor, Sentinel Technologies at $539,075, based on estimated requirements. 
 
Public WiFi 102: Staying Safe on Public networks - Dignited
Background / Discussion 
The City currently provides free public Wi-Fi (Wireless Internet Access) in the downtown district, libraries, parks, and pools. The current outdoor system has reached end-of-life and replacement is needed. With the new development in Downtown Mesa, the project will also expand the service area, as well as work with residents and businesses to ensure the service meets the needs of the community working in, living in, and visiting downtown, parks, and pool facilities. 
Home Wi-Fi Connection–Pitfalls & Precautions! – Trak.in – Indian Business  of Tech, Mobile & Startups
Staff evaluated multiple hardware platforms for this service, and found the solution utilizing Cisco Systems to best meet the needs of the City’s security and privacy, and to enable future capabilities for a Smart City. 
An evaluation committee from DoIT and the Transportation Department unanimously agreed on the Cisco recommendation. 
 
Purchasing Information Action
Award Procurement Type: Cooperative Contract 
Use Contract Number: 2021242 Contracting Agency/Contract Number: NCPA Contract/#01-97 
Local Consideration: Policy did not apply to this procurement method 
Protests Received: None 
Funding Source: Local Fiscal Recovery Funds 
 
AWARD RECOMMENDATION 
Hardware, Software, Support, Services and Shipping per NCPA #01-97 
and Quote Cisco Outdoor Wireless (5/28/2021) 
Hardware and Software $398,660.00 
Solution Maintenance and Support $3,650.00 
Solution Subscriptions $73,800.00 
Professional Services $22,400.00 
Ground Shipping $2,000.00 
Estimated 8.1% Sales Tax $38,564.91 
Total $539,074.91
What is Sentinel technology?
Image result for Sentinel Technologies
As an independent technology company, Sentinelstands for integrated, customized IT solutions. Our business first, technology second methodology is a unique approach that helps our customers drive sales, propel business performance, and improve operational efficiency.

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