To: Board of Supervisors
From: Libraries
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Agreement between Humboldt County Library and Califa Group for the Provision, Installation and Maintenance of Advanced Network (Data) Services
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached agreement between the Humboldt County Library and the Califa Group (Attachment 1);
2. Approve, and authorize the Library Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the agreement with Califa Group; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return two fully executed original copies of the attached agreement to the Library for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Funding is included in the Communication expenditure line, 1500-621-2106 of Library FY20-21 budget. Reimbursements of Circuit Costs articulated in Appendix #1 of Attachment 1.
DISCUSSION:
The Library’s contract with Califa will add one or more data circuits to connect the Library to the Cooperation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) high-speed broadband fiber network, the California Research and Education Network (CalREN), and as specified in Appendix #1, attached, to connect Library to other library sites as identified in said appendix for the purpose of connecting to CalREN.
CENIC is a nonprofit corporation formed in 1997 to provide high-performance, high-bandwidth networking services to California universities and research institutions. Through this corporation, representatives from all of California's K-20 public education combine their networking resources toward the operation, deployment, and maintenance of CalREN. Today, CalREN operates over 8,000 miles of fiber optic cable and serves more than 20 million users, including Califa Group, a membership organization dedicated to providing the best library products to Library members at the best prices. CENIC negotiates with library vendors for discounted pricing and group pricing and provide procurement services so that libraries can buy multiple products from a single vendor.
On March 24, 2015, The Board approved agenda item D-8 which authorized Humboldt County Library’s proposal to sign an agreement between the Califa Group for provision, installation, and maintenance of circuits to connect the Library the CENIC high-speed broadband fiber network until 2020.
The implementation of this proposal renews the provision of D-8, providing ongoing high-speed broadband fiber connectivity to the Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Fortuna, McKinleyville, Rio Dell, and Trinidad Libraries through June 2025. In addition, this proposal adds Ferndale and Garberville Libraries to the CENIC network.
When libraries are connected to Broadband, the neighboring community benefits. Public libraries serve as critical gateways to information outside one’s own community, and in the Information Age this role has become even more important. Libraries give people without home computers free access to the Internet, helping America close the digital divide. As reliance upon public libraries to provide broadband telecommunications services for their community increases, it becomes essential to have universal high-speed connectivity in libraries across the country.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is from Fiscal Year 2020-2021 through Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The maximum amount payable by Library for services rendered, and costs and expenses incurred, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this agreement is $805,230.55 total over the term of this agreement, not to exceed $107,552.45 in any fiscal year (notwithstanding non-recurring costs), as set forth in Appendix #1 of Attachment 1.
Funding for this agreement will be paid from the Library Budget Unit 1500-621. Revenue to pay for this agreement primarily comes from local property taxes. Funding has been included in the FY 20-21 budget for the Library. There will be no impact on the General Fund.
The Library will receive reimbursements of 80% for monthly recurring and non-recurring costs from Califa on a yearly basis, for discounts received through the Federal E-rate Discount Program. This will offset the Library’s yearly cost to provide high-speed internet to most of its branches.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing for and maintaining infrastructure, providing community appropriate levels of service, managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services, inviting civic engagement and awareness of available services, building interjurisdictional and regional cooperation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CENIC: Cooperation for Education Network Initiatives in California
EdTechnology Funds: e-rate funding consultants.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board may opt to reject agreement. This would defund a robust broadband service. Costs to sustain the program will increase. Thousands of Humboldt County residents who rely on this platform for internet connectivity would have fewer options to access the web.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2020 Agreement between Humboldt County Library and Califa Group for the provision, installation, and maintenance of advanced network (data) services
2. 2015 2020 Agreement between Humboldt County Library and Califa Group for the provision, installation, and maintenance of advanced network (data) services
3. 2020 Letter of Agency
4. 2017 Letter of Agency
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-8
Meeting of: March 24, 2015
File No.: 15-285