BRAMPTON, ON. (June 23, 2008) – The Region of Peel’s existing telephone system will be replaced with new Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) telephone technology in late 2008. The VoIP technology will be supplied by Avaya, a global leader in communications systems, applications and services.

“The Region of Peel’s senior management and staff worked closely with the Executive Management Team, Regional Council and vendors throughout the Request for Information and Request for Proposal processes,” said Regional Chairman Emil Kolb. “The Avaya system met the Region’s requirements for growth and contingency and also met the implementation, equipment and support needs required over the next two plus years.”

The Region conducted two independent reviews in response to questions about the validity of the Request for Proposal process and selection of Avaya as the preferred vendor. The Region’s Internal Audit division’s procurement process review determined that Regional staff complied with the Region’s Purchasing By-law, policies, procedures and practices. Deloitte, a globally recognized business consulting firm, was also retained to conduct a thorough review of the selection process. Their report concluded that “the Region of Peel conducted a reasonable technical and pricing evaluation of telephony service vendors based on published requirements against the submitted proposals and resulting interviews and demonstrations. The selection of Avaya was appropriate.”

Findings of the reviews were presented to Regional Council on June 12, 2008. Council subsequently ratified the award to Avaya on June 19, 2008.

“I would like to commend staff for their diligence and professionalism throughout the review, selection and follow up review processes,” said Laura Nashman, Employee and Business Services Commissioner.

The Regional Municipality of Peel was incorporated in 1974 on the principle that certain community and infrastructure services are most cost-effectively administered over a larger geographic area. The Region of Peel serves more than one million residents in the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton and the Town of Caledon.

For more information on the Region of Peel, please call 905-791-7800, or visit www.peelregion.ca.

Released by the Region of Peel on June 24, 2008 at 12:46