Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the City Treasurer’s Office to waive competitive bidding and enter into contract for IT staff augmentation services with the State of Ohio's IT Staff Augmentation Contract (state term schedule) with OST, Inc. or the current contract provider.
The City Treasurer’s Office is in the midst of transitioning its merchant services and gateway solution from Huntington Merchant Services and Fiserv (First Data) to JP Morgan Chase Bank. Many City merchants employ the use of third-party software and services providers. Such transitions are complicated and require much in the way of IT support such as project management, business analysis, or technical resources. While JP Morgan Chase Bank provides technical expertise for its implementations, the Treasurer’s Office needs its own IT support for this citywide effort.
The City Treasurer’s Office reached out to the City’s Department of Technology (DoT) for technical expertise but DoT was unable to provide the support needed. Some project resource needs are still to be determined and will be defined during discovery phase of product implementation.
As the market for technical expertise is competitive, the State IT Staff Augmentation Contract offers the best opportunity for the Treasurer’s Office to obtain this expertise. It is hoped that the addition of technical expertise will enable the Treasurer’s Office to provide assistance to City merchants for the forthcoming implementations as well as documentation of business processes, solutions assistance, problem-solving and other needed expertise. The contract is competitive and, if the contract employee is needed on an ongoing basis, a contractor to direct hire is possible.
It is therefore in the City's best interests to authorize the City Treasurer to waive competitive bidding in order to enter into contract with OST, Inc., the current State of Ohio's IT Staff Augmentation Contract provider.
Emergency designation is requested...
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