Title
Approving a three-year extension to the City of Pflugerville's contract for Information Technology (IT) services with Net Sales Direct (NSD) and authorizing the City Manager to execute same.
Summary
The City of Pflugerville has had a contractual relationship with Net Sales Direct (NSD) for five years. Working with NSD provides experts for the City in all aspects of IT - networking, hardware, software, system configuration, email, and connectivity. During that time, the City has made many improvements to the hardware, software and connectivity components of the City's computer system. NSD has worked with most of the city departments in the implementation of specific departmental software, ensuring that the software will meet the stated needs and be compatible with existing systems. NSD consultants have also assisted the City with the planning and implementation of telephone and security systems, and the technological updates in the City Council chamber. The new contract specifies an NSD representative at each City Council meeting to manage the audio-visual equipment.
Staff has negotiated a proposed contact to continue these services, as allowed within the current contract. The annual cost of the contract is increasing by $13,000 due to the addition of an automated system that will monitor disk space, do all software patches automatically to each system, check all switches and connections on a realtime basis, and provide a helpdesk that employees can access for immediate assistance. This system was tested by the City and was shown to be effective by proactively maintaining the City's systems, and providing assistance for routine questions, thereby allowing the technician to attend to other issues.
Mr. George Hyde, City Attorney, has reviewed this contract.
Deadline for City Council Action
There is no deadline for action on this item.
Fiscal Impact
The cost of the IT services is budgeted as a professional services in the Administration portion of the General Fund Budget. A portion of the cost is allocated to the Utility Fund through the transfer. The proposed contract will be for $169,764 annually.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the three-year extension of the contract between the City of Pflugerville and NSD.
Drafter
Lauri Gillam
Assistant City Manager