CC MEETING: April 7, 2020
DATE: March 30, 2020
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Andy Horn, Director of Information Systems
Title
Consider Authorizing The City Manager To Approve A Contract For Professional Website Design and Maintenance Services From Carahsoft Technology Corporation In An Amount Not To Exceed $214,045.19.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City has reached the end of its current contract with its website vendor, Granicus, LLC, and an internal process review and comparison to industry best-practices has led the IS Department to determine that its existing methodology for the management of the City’s website can be enhanced with the current vendor to ensure operational sustainability and resiliency of the service it provides to the community.
The current external website solution is housed on-premise and issues which impact our network equally impact this service. Granicus, LLC offers a cloud-based solution which operates independently both in daily operations and emergency scenarios. Additionally, Granicus, LLC manages website stability directly, while City staff continue to manage its content. This is supportive of the Department’s strategic direction to source its solutions and support from the most efficient and effective available options which provide resiliency in its operations. The services offered by Granicus, LLC are made available through the Texas DIR by Carahsoft Technology Corporation at a price lower than is readily available on the open market.
Other City departments, including Marketing Services, will use this opportunity to enhance the public’s experience on website with content only available in a cloud-hosted solution. They will further increase our means of communication with the public through additional accessibility features. The Economic Development Department will develop an independent sub-site furthering the City’s sustainability goals.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The funds for the non-recurring project costs are budgeted in the IS Refresh Fund (#854105-106600199) and the Economic Development Department’s operating funds (#421001-61325). Annual maintenance is currently budgeted within the IS Professional Services fund (#151001-61190). A ten percent contingency has been built in to both fees.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends approval of an expenditure for professional website design and maintenance services to Carahsoft Technology Corporation (DIR Contract #DIR-TSO-4288) for a one-time fee of $137,019.30 and an annual recurring fee of $27,116.60 with an annual increase of up to three- and one-half percent.