Drafter
Clerk 09/18/2003
Title
A MOTION requesting the executive to research and report to the council on benefits of participation in a cooperative software purchasing alliance with other cities and counties.
Body
WHEREAS, the King County 2003 Budget Ordinance contained $43.81 million to fund capital technology projects, and
WHEREAS, King County has expended $64.58 million in life-to-date funding on capital technology projects through December 31, 2002, and
WHEREAS, King County has approved funding $1.83 million to upgrade the PeopleSoft payroll software from version seven software to version eight software, and
WHEREAS, King County has approved funding $3.97 million to upgrade the Oracle Financials Application software from version R10.7C to R11i, and
WHEREAS, the Oracle Financials software upgrade required purchase of new computer hardware that would support the new software upgrade, and
WHEREAS, PeopleSoft and Oracle Financials software require constant upgrades as older software version are no longer supported by software vendors, and
WHEREAS, King County is currently conducting a business case that is considering deployment of PeopleSoft and Oracle Financials software countywide, and
WHEREAS, the software industry in general offers upgrades to its software, and
WHEREAS, the software industry in general no longer supports older versions of its software, and
WHEREAS, software upgrades in general require purchase of new computer hardware to support new software upgrades, and
WHEREAS, many cities and counties also rely on off-the-shelf software for public administration, and
WHEREAS, King County and other localities may benefit from cooperatively negotiating the purchase of computer software that may result in volume discounts and may result in lengthening the time that older versions of software are supported by the vendor;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The executive is requested to research the cost-savings opportunities that may be available through participation in a cooperative software purchasing alliance with other cities, counties and states. The report shall include an analysis of cost-savings opportunities from negotiating both discounts on software purchase costs as well as from extending vendor support to maintain older versions of software. The executive is also requested to report back to the budget and fiscal management committee by March 1,
2004, with a report on whether the county may benefit from joining or creating a cooperative software purchasing alliance.