TR14441 - A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, awarding Bid 26-40B to R2 Unified Technologies, LLC for new Cisco Systems Network Switches at a cost of $149,955.52; authorizing up to $100,000 in additional purchases from R2 Unified Technologies, LLC during FY2027, subject to the Tamarac Procurement Code and available funding; authorizing expenditures from the appropriate accounts, contract documents, and purchase orders; providing for conflicts; providing for scrivener errors; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.

The Chief Information Officer recommends that the Mayor and City Commission award Bid 26-40B to R2 Unified Technologies, LLC, for the purchase of nine (9) new Cisco Catalyst 9350 network switches and two (2) new Cisco Catalyst 9200L network switches, including five (5) years of Cisco SMARTnet maintenance and support, at a total purchase cost of $149,955.52; and authorize additional purchases from R2 Unified Technologies, LLC of up to $100,000 during FY2027, subject to the Tamarac Procurement Code and availability of funding, at its October 28, 2026, meeting.

Technology is essential to the delivery of City services. The City depends on a reliable computer network to connect City facilities and support everyday operations, public safety-related services, communications, and security systems.

A network switch is a device that connects computers, telephones, security cameras, wireless access points, and other equipment so they can communicate with each other and access City systems. Similar to how roads and intersections connect different parts of a community, network switches carry information between devices and facilities. As the City adds more connected devices, its network must be able to handle increasing demand.

Newer wireless access points (WAPs), security cameras, and other network equipment requires more electrical power than older switches can supply. Universal Power over Ethernet (UPOE) enables compatible switches to provide both data and higher levels of power through a single network cable, avoiding separate electrical connections. The City needs switches with UPOE-capable connections to support these newer devices, along with greater network speed and capacity.

This phase replaces the following eleven (11) network switches and addresses additional network capacity at City facilities:

•    City Hall IT Data Center                                
         o    2 Cisco Systems 2960-X Network Switches    Purchased in 2016

•    Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Tamarac District HQ                
         o    1 Cisco Systems 3850 Network Switch           Purchased in 2016

•    Community Center                                    
         o    1 Cisco Systems 3850 Network Switch           Purchased in 2016
         o    1 Dell PowerConnect Network Switch             Purchased in 2010

•    Fire Station 15                                    
        o    3 Cisco Systems 2960-X Network Switches    Purchased in 2016

•    Recreation Center                                    
        o    1 Cisco Systems 3850 Network Switch           Purchased in 2016
        o    1 Cisco Systems 3560 Network Switch           Purchased in 2014

•    Water Treatment Plant                                
        o    1 Cisco Systems 3850 Network Switch           Purchased in 2016

Cisco’s End of Support date is the point at which the manufacturer stops providing support for a model. SMARTnet is a separate maintenance agreement that provides covered technical assistance, eligible software updates, and hardware replacement services during its active term. Once an older model passes Cisco’s final support date, the City may be unable to renew that coverage. Without manufacturer support, equipment failures can be harder to resolve, replacement parts may be more difficult to obtain, and security vulnerabilities may remain uncorrected.

The Cisco Systems Catalyst 3850 network switches reached Cisco’s final End of Support date on October 31, 2025; their SMARTnet coverage expired on that date and could not be renewed. The Catalyst 2960-X switches are covered by existing SMARTnet agreements through October 31, 2027, which is also their listed End of Support date. The Cisco Systems Catalyst 3560 network switch reached Cisco’s final End of Support date on May 31, 2021; their SMARTnet coverage expired on that date and could not be renewed. These dates underscore the importance of replacing aging equipment before a failure disrupts City operations.

The planned purchase includes the following eleven (11) switches:

•    City Hall IT Data Center                                
       o    2 Cisco Systems 9350 Network Switches

•    Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Tamarac District HQ                
       o    1 Cisco Systems 9350 Network Switch

•    Community Center                                    
       o    1 Cisco Systems 9350 Network Switch
       o    1 Cisco Systems 9200L Network Switch

•    Fire Station 15                                    
       o    3 Cisco Systems 9350 Network Switches

•    Recreation Center                                    
       o    1 Cisco Systems 9350 Network Switch
       o    1 Cisco Systems 9200L Network Switch

•    Water Treatment Plant                                
       o    1 Cisco Systems 9350 Network Switch

The proposed equipment will provide additional capacity and faster connections between major network components, with backbone speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second (10 Gbps) and a path to higher speeds where supported. The new switches are expected to provide at least ten (10) years of useful service, subject to changing operational needs and manufacturer support schedules.

Switches removed during this project that remain functional may be kept as temporary spares or redeployed at lower-demand locations where higher bandwidth and UPOE capabilities are not required. Staff will evaluate each switch’s condition, support status, and cybersecurity risk before reuse. This approach can extend the value of existing equipment and avoid unnecessary purchases without relying on unsupported switches for critical applications.

Additional network switches will be purchased separately as future needs and project schedules are determined, including a specialized fiber switch for City Hall, switches for upcoming parks, and secondary switches at City facilities that have been deferred pending decisions regarding the new Government Services Complex.

As part of its evaluation, Information Technology consulted Cisco engineers about the best replacement for the City’s existing equipment. Cisco recommended its newer Catalyst 9350 series in place of the older Catalyst 9300 series. The Catalyst 9350 is designed to provide greater capacity and reliability while giving the City a longer anticipated manufacturer-supported product lifecycle.

This project was approved and funded in both the FY2026 and FY2027 Capital Maintenance Programs (CMP) budgets with a total available budget of $301,000:
 
•    FY2026         Project IT26A         $201,000
•    FY2027         Project IT27A         $100,000

Cisco Refresh is Cisco Systems’ manufacturer-certified remanufactured equipment program, similar to purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from an automobile manufacturer instead of purchasing a new vehicle. Previously owned equipment is inspected, reconditioned, thoroughly tested, and certified by Cisco Systems. Cisco Refresh equipment qualifies for the same manufacturer warranty and technical support options as comparable new equipment. This can provide savings in some situations, although it did not offer the best overall pricing for this purchase.

The proposed purchase includes five (5) years of Cisco SMARTnet maintenance and support coverage. SMARTnet is Cisco’s manufacturer-backed support program and provides access to technical experts, troubleshooting, eligible software and security updates, and hardware replacement services under the purchased service level. Including support with the equipment helps the City maintain reliable operations and respond more quickly to equipment problems during the first five years of use.

To obtain competitive pricing and evaluate long-term value, the City issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) 26-40B on July 21, 2026, with responses due August 20, 2026. The solicitation requested prices for both new and Cisco Refresh versions of the Catalyst 9300 and Catalyst 9350 switches, together with the required Catalyst 9200L switches and Cisco SMARTnet support. The solicitation is on file with the City Clerk’s Office.

After reviewing the bids, staff determined that new Catalyst 9350 equipment offered the most favorable pricing among the responsive alternatives evaluated, while also providing the benefits of a newer-generation platform. The detailed vendor pricing and responsiveness determinations follow.

1.    The City received eleven (11) vendor responses to the solicitation. The following table summarizes pricing submitted for Cisco Refresh (manufacturer-certified remanufactured) Catalyst 9300 and Catalyst 9350 equipment. Certain responses were disqualified or deemed nonresponsive, as noted below.

* The proposer was disqualified due to the following:
     •    SIRC submitted an incorrect/inaccurate bid which was missing the correct length of warranty requested
     •    Aztek Computers LLC were not identified as an authorized Cisco partner and/or reseller.

** The proposer was deemed non-responsive due to the following:
     •    Mize Solutions LLC and vPrime Tech LLC did not submit Refresh/Refurb Cisco Catalyst 9300 pricing.

2.    The following table summarizes bids for the originally solicited quantities of ten (10) new Catalyst 9350 switches and three (3) new Catalyst 9200L switches, including the required support coverage. Certain responses were disqualified or deemed nonresponsive, as noted below.

* The proposer was disqualified due to the following:
     •    Aztek Computers LLC were not identified as an authorized Cisco partner and/or reseller.

** The proposer was deemed non-responsive due to the following:
     •    SIRC, Inc. did not submit Cisco Catalyst 9200L pricing.
     •    vPrime Tech Inc. did not submit bids for the New Catalyst 9350.

Although the bid originally requested prices for ten (10) Catalyst 9350 switches and three (3) Catalyst 9200L switches, Information Technology reviewed the City’s immediate needs and determined that nine (9) Catalyst 9350 switches and two (2) Catalyst 9200L switches would be sufficient for this phase (eleven (11) network switches total). Reducing the purchase by two switches lowers the cost while still meeting the current replacement and expansion requirements. The following comparison reflects the revised quantities.

R2 Unified Technologies, LLC submitted the lowest responsive, responsible bid for the revised purchase quantities.

R2 Unified Technologies, LLC regularly bids on and quotes City technology purchases. Although no additional expenditures are presently anticipated, staff requests authorization for up to $100,000 in additional purchases from R2 during FY2027, should it be selected for other City needs. This would avoid returning to the Commission solely because of aggregate vendor spending. All purchases would remain subject to the Tamarac Procurement Code and available funding.

Accordingly, I recommend that the Mayor and City Commission award Bid 26-40B to R2 Unified Technologies, LLC and authorize the purchase of nine (9) new Cisco Catalyst 9350 switches and two (2) new Cisco Catalyst 9200L switches, including five (5) years of Cisco SMARTnet support, for a total of $149,955.52; and authorize up to $100,000 in additional purchases from R2 Unified Technologies, LLC during FY2027, subject to the Tamarac Procurement Code and availability of funding.

The City needs to replace aging network equipment that has reached or is approaching the end of its manufacturer-supported life. These network switches are essential to connecting City computers, telephone systems, security cameras, and other technology used in daily operations. Replacing this equipment will help prevent service disruptions, strengthen cybersecurity, and ensure the City’s network can reliably support current and future operational needs.