Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board authorize the Purchasing Agent to negotiate and execute Amendment I to the Agreement (FENIX 4555) with NEO Fiber, Inc, dba Neo Connect, increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $15,000 to $50,882, for as-needed, on-going staffing support and consulting services related to pre-grant Broadband efforts, including researching what areas of the County would qualify for upcoming grant opportunities. (Cont. 2/25/2020, Item 3) (Est. Time: 10 mins)
FUNDING: General Fund/TOT
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DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
On December 17, 2019, NEO Connect presented their final report on Broadband planning in the County to the Board of Supervisors (Legistar 19-1821, December 17, 2019). At this time the Board authorized and approved the Purchasing Agent to negotiate an agreement with NEO Connect for as-needed consulting on various Broadband topics, including policy and ordinance implementation, coordination with other agencies and developers on future projects. Agreement #4555 for $15,000 was executed on January 30, 2020, for a term of two years.
Staff was also directed to continue to look for grant opportunities and investors/partnerships to further Broadband efforts in the County, as well as to research smaller areas of the County in which to implement a pilot program for Broadband implementation. Two grant opportunities have been identified, which the County may wish to pursue, that could help implement Broadband in a project area within El Dorado County. The maximum award under each grant is $3 million for one and $25 million for another. Each will require a County match, which staff will ask the Board to consider once additional information is developed. The Board will also be asked to approve the project area(s). Each grant application will be due later in 2020.
This contract amendment with NEO Connect will provide funding for the next step in the grant preparation process, researching what areas within the County would ...
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