Item Description:
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SOW PR00002849-002 with Metropolitan Council for the installation of the METRO E Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fiber optic communication infrastructure, in exchange for county ownership of the new infrastructure, 08/06/24-04/09/28, NTE $563,715
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Statement of Work PR00002849-002 with Metropolitan Council for the installation of the METRO E Line fiber optic communication infrastructure, in exchange for county ownership of the new infrastructure, during the period August 6, 2024 through April 9, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $563,715, be approved; that the County Administrator be authorized to sign the statement of work on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Hennepin County aims to establish a Statement of Work (SOW) with Metropolitan Council to outline project responsibilities for collaborating on the METRO E Line fiber optic infrastructure.
Hennepin County Information Technology is collaborating with Metropolitan Council on the E Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to integrate fiber optic infrastructure along the E Line corridor from Southdale Transit Center near York Avenue in Edina to University Avenue at the Hennepin County-Ramsey County line, passing through Minneapolis.
Metropolitan Council will lead the design, construction, and installation of new fiber optic infrastructure as part of the broader E Line BRT construction project, scheduled to commence in July 2024. This initiative will enhance county system redundancy and enable future connections to Linden Hills Library, Walker Library, and Southeast Library.
Hennepin County will contribute approximately one quarter of the installation costs of the fiber optic communication network, not exceeding $563,715, along the "trunk line," spanning from Hennepin Avenue & Lake Street to University Avenue & 13th Avenue. The county will assume responsibility of the maintenance and repairs of the trunk-line fiber, securing ownership of approximately half of the new fiber infrastructure. Upon project completion, Hennepin County will lease strands back to Metropolitan Council in segments owned by the county. In turn, Metropolitan Council will lease strands back to Hennepin County in segments owned by Metropolitan Council. Both parties will have dedicated fiber throughout the entire corridor.
The forthcoming Statement of Work, PR00002849-002, will serve as a subordinate agreement under the county’s principal fiber infrastructure agreement with Metropolitan Council. This principal agreement sets the framework for collaborative fiber projects between the parties and received approval from the Hennepin County Board under resolution 20-0482. According to this resolution, project SOWs exceeding $500,000 require Board approval, and the County Administrator is authorized to sign such SOWs.
Hennepin County has previously collaborated successfully with Metropolitan Council on similar joint projects, including the installation of fiber optic communication infrastructure on the B Line BRT, C Line BRT, and D Line BRT projects.
Funding for this initiative is allocated within the capital budget under project 1006393, IT Community Connectivity.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval