Title
Village Wide Fiber Optic Infrastructure Planning - Proposal
History
Within the last decade, demand and growth for electronic data between Village data points has increased significantly. Most communication data points within the Village are copper phone line or wireless based, using technology developed in the late 1980s. These data points include radio repeaters, alarms, computers, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and communications data. Within the water system alone, there are 25 individual data points that would connect to this infrastructure.
Staff has researched methods of addressing these data issues using both fiber optic and wireless based solutions. While there will be areas where wireless can be targeted as the best solution, fiber optics appears to be the key in serving as a backbone for core communication needs within the Village. A fiber optic network would have greater reliability, superior speed and capacity, offer much more security and have a smaller environmental footprint than a traditional wireless network.
In addition, a recent Intergovernmental Agreement between the Village and School District 135 would afford the Village use of the School District’s unused fiber optic conduit. Part of the School District’s design scope was to include various Village facilities along their fiber optic cabling routes.
As part of the effort to include fiber optics as a solution within the Village, staff is recommending an overall infrastructure plan be developed. The plan would include facility priorities (Phase Planning), infrastructure pathways, co-existence with both School District and Village fiber infrastructure, and engineered GIS based maps deliverable to the Village.
Two Engineering firms were interviewed by staff and provided proposals for fiber optic infrastructure plans. Both firms have previously worked with the Village and SD 135 on fiber infrastructure projects. (See attached proposal documents)
HBK Engineering of Chicago, IL $9,890
Technical Design Services Inc. of Naperville, IL $9,850
Staff is recommending approval of HBK Engineering of Chicago, Illinois. HBK Engineering developed SD 135’s fiber optic plan and has strong fiber optic infrastructure design experience, including the City of Chicago’s fiber optic infrastructure.
On December 1, 2014, this item was reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
Financial Impact
Funds have been budgeted in Fiscal Year 2014 in the Capital Improvement and the Water and Sewer Funds.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the Village Board accepting the proposal for Village Wide Fiber Optic Infrastructure Planning from HBK Engineering of Chicago, Illinois in an amount not to exceed $9,890.