South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: July 20, 2001 AGENDA NO. 17
Authorize Purchase of Desktop Computers, Mini Computers, Networks, and Phone System Hardware
SYNOPSIS:
AQMD operational efficiency is ever more dependent on desktop computers, mini-computers, network components, and phone system. These items are integral parts of the computing infrastructure required to perform AQMD operations. Demands on all of these components have steadily increased to the point that they have reached their maximum utilization. In addition, some hardware is aging to the point that it can not be supported. This action is to authorize the purchase of desktop computers, mini-computers, networks, and phone system hardware. These replacements are in accord with AQMD's Information Management Strategic Plan. Funds ($502,500) for these purchases are included in the FY 2001-02 Budget.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, June 8, 2001, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize purchase of approximately 250 desktop computer systems, a mini-computer upgrade, two mini-computer backup devices, ten network servers, five network closet switches, automatic call distribution system upgrade, and voice mail storage upgrade; and authorize the Procurement Manager to execute all documents for these purchases at a total amount not to exceed $502,500.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The District has become increasingly dependent on desktop computers, mini-computers, network components, and phone systems. These items are essential to the continued operation of AQMD’s computing infrastructure, and the overall operations of the AQMD. Utilization of these components has steadily increased to the point that they have reached their maximum capacity. Some of the components will soon be unsupported due to the age of the equipment.
AQMD desktop computers are being upgraded to Windows 2000 Professional/Office 97; and enhancements to the CLASS (Clean Air Support System) application have been made to support Permit Streamlining recommendations, Fee Rule changes, and other rule amendments. Furthermore, many desktop systems are required to run the District's Finance/Human Resource applications (PeopleSoft), Record Services imaging, and workflow automation applications recently developed and deployed. Computing capacity of many of AQMD’s desktop computers hampers the performance of these applications.
In June 1997, the AQMD purchased a DEC Alphaserver 1000A mini-computer to support CLASS and PeopleSoft applications. Currently, staff uses this mini-computer for testing database upgrades, application upgrades and stress testing. This server is five years old, has reached its maximum utilization, and can no longer be enhanced or upgraded. In order to ensure reliable operation of databases and applications, it is necessary to replace this mini-computer with new upgraded equipment that is fault-tolerant and has enough computing capacity to provide adequate database testing. In addition, increased usage of CLASS business applications have led to increased disk storage on the DEC Alpha 8400 Production and DEC Alpha 4100 Development mini-computer systems. These systems must be backed up in a timely manner, during off hours, to ensure continued operation of mission-critical District programs. Recent increases in data storage have increased system backup times to over 10 hours. A system failure, which requires backup data to be restored, could have serious negative impacts on use of production software application during normal business hours. Two additional mini-computer backup devices are necessary to ensure backup completion in a timely manner.
The District’s network servers are used to provide file sharing, e-mail, network printing, Internet and Intranet access. The District is currently in the process of migrating network servers to the Windows 2000 Server environment, which provides a more stable network platform, increased availability, enhanced file sharing, better security, and a host of other new and improved features. These enhancements require greater computing resources than our already overburdened network servers possess. Due to budget constraints for the past three years, these servers have not been upgraded as planned in Information Management’s Strategic Plan. In addition, AQMD network closet switches are outdated and only support 10 Megabit per second bandwidth to the user desktop computers. The Board approved a network core upgrade in FY2000-01, which was the first step required to provide 100 Megabit per second bandwidth to desktop computers. However, current closet switches only support 10 Megabits per second bandwidth, and need to be upgraded to support 100 Megabit per second throughput.
The AQMD phone system supports all day-to-day telephone operations. Two integral components of the phone system are the automatic call distribution system and the voice mail system. The voice mail system lacks a redundant copy of the voice mail data, and is therefore vulnerable to data loss in case of a single point failure. A voice mail storage upgrade will eliminate the possibility of data loss from a single disk drive failure. In addition, the automatic call distribution system is two major version releases behind, and will soon be unsupported by the vendor. An upgrade of the automatic call distribution system to the current version of Symposium Call Center will ensure continued support and operation of the system.
Therefore, in accordance with Information Management's Strategic Plan and to efficiently support staff, desktop computer, mini-computer, network equipment, and phone system upgrades are required. The following configurations will be replaced:
Desktop Computers
Mini-Computer
Network Servers
Network Closet Switches
Automatic Call Distribution System
Voice Mail Storage
Proposal
This action is to authorize the Procurement Manager to execute purchase orders with the vendors providing the lowest cost bid at a total cost not to exceed $502,500. Bids for approximately 250 desktop computer systems, a mini-computer upgrade, two mini-computer backup devices, ten network servers, five network closet switches, automatic call distribution system upgrade, and voice mail storage upgrade will be solicited. Bids for equipment with the configuration listed in the attached "Desktop Computer, Mini-Computer, Network and Phone System Hardware Configuration and Cost Estimate," will be solicited from master agreements, cooperative agreements, or other interagency agreements with governmental entities, from the firm approved by the Board to provide phone system maintenance, and from the firms on the list of prequalified vendors for the Purchase of Computer, Network, Printer, and Related Services in order to achieve the best available price. The Board approved Verizon on November 5, 1999 to provide phone system maintenance for a three-year period. The prequalified vendor list was approved by the Board on June 15, 2001, and is in effect for a period ending June 30, 2003.
Resource Impacts
Sufficient funds are included in the FY 2001-02 Budget in the following amounts:
Attachments
Desktop Computer, Mini-Computer, Network and Phone System Hardware Configuration and Cost Estimate
|
Product Description |
Source |
Estimated Cost |
Quantity |
Estimated Total Cost (Including Tax) |
|
A. Desktop Computer including:
|
MWave |
$690.00 |
250 |
$186,300 |
|
B. Mini-Computer including:
|
Compaq |
$73,148 |
1 |
$79,000 |
|
C. Mini Computer Backup Devices
|
Compaq |
$32,400 |
2 |
$34,992 |
|
D. Network Servers including:
|
Compaq |
$11,913 |
10 |
$128,660 |
|
E. Network Closet Switches including:
| Cisco |
$4,995 |
5 | $26,973 |
|
F. Automatic Call Distribution System
| Verizon | $21,204 | 1 | $22,900 |
|
G. Voice Mail Storage Upgrade including:
| Verizon | $20,800 | 1 | $22,400 |
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