November 19, 2024
Library and Community Services
DATE: November 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Kate Eppler, Deputy Director of Community Services –
Library
Christopher Larsen, Library Services Manager
Subject:
Contract with Imperial County Office of Education to
Continue Richmond Public Library’s Connection to CENIC
Network High Speed Broadband
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed annual not to exceed amount of $10,000 is included in the approved Library operating budget for
Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (01241055 – 400401).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
April 4, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The California State Library provides discounted high-
speed broadband access to public libraries through the
Broadband Services Project; to continue its participation in the project, Richmond Public Library must contract with the new Statewide Broadband Access Aggregator, the
Imperial County Office of Education.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a sole-source contract with the Imperial
County Office of Education for a not to exceed amount of $30,000, with a term beginning September 10, 2024, and
ending September 10, 2027, to allow the Richmond
Public Library’s connection to the Corporation for
Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) high speed network – Community Services (Christopher
Larsen 510-620-5524/Kate Eppler 510-620-5452).
AGENDA
REPORT
November 19, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Public Library maintains a one gigabyte high-speed internet connection for use by Library patrons through participation in the California State Library Broadband Services Project (Project), which connects libraries to the fiber-optic-based California Research and Education Network (CalREN). CalREN is operated and maintained by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) and is a multi-tiered, advanced network-services fabric serving more than 20 million users across California, including the vast majority of K-12 students together with educators, researchers, and individuals at other vital public-serving institutions, like libraries. More information about CENIC can be found at https://cenic.org/about.
To administer the Project, the California State Library selects a Statewide Broadband Access Aggregator (Aggregator). Participating libraries contract with the Aggregator for data circuits to connect to CalREN. The Aggregator further facilitates participation in the Project by coordinating discounts through the California Teleconnect Fund and applying federal E-Rate funds received by the Library. While the annual cost of the Library’s CENIC internet connection is $8,780.40, the E-rated annual cost is $878.04 (Attachment 2).
The California State Library selected Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) as the new Aggregator for the Broadband Services Project in January 2024 (Attachment 3).
City Council approved a contract with Columbia Technology Corporation on April 4, 2023; however, ICOE assumed the role from Columbia Technology Corporation. The Richmond Public Library is seeking approval of a sole source contract with ICOE to maintain its discounted, high-speed connection to CalREN for Library visitors (Attachment 4).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - ICOE CENIC Aggregator Contract
Attachment 2 - CENIC Richmond Public Library Quote
Attachment 3 - Press Release Appointing ICOE CENIC Aggregator Attachment 4 - ICOE Sole Source
Attachment 5 - ICOE IT Authorization.pdf