Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the City Treasurer to modify and extend its contract with First Data Government Solutions, LP for on-line consumer payments credit card processing services for the period March 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014.
In 2004, the Income Tax Division requested proposals through the Purchasing Office and these proposals were evaluated by a committee of representatives from the Income Tax Division, the Department of Technology, the Deputy Auditor and the City Treasurer. It was determined that First Data Government Solutions, formerly GovConnect, had the municipal government experience and product that would best serve the needs of the city and its taxpayers.
It was originally intended that the initial contract for the electronic payment services provided to the Income Tax Division would be the basis for the web platform for electronic payment services to other agencies in the city. Due to these existing interfaces between the city's web platform and the e-payment engine provided by First Data Government Solutions, it was recommended that the Department of Public Utilities use their services for its electronic payment requirements. In addition, these services are now used by the Department of Public Service, Division of Planning and Operations and the Building and Zoning Services Department. The Health Department also now wishes to join the contract.
The City Treasurer’s Office assumed the responsibility for the consumer payments portion of the relationship with First Data Government Solutions, LP as a banking-related service in order to consolidate the contracts under one umbrella. The Treasurer’s Office planned that these services be included among the other banking services that were bid during 2012. However, it became clear that linking these on-line payment processing services, which include a web portal and interactive voice response systems, with the other banking contracts would increase the level of...
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