The county’s Internal Services Department has issued a request for proposal seeking a managed services provider (MSP) to “perform the overall management acquisition” of IT consulting support services and a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that is a web-based, contractor-hosted system for county departments.
“The county is shifting from the current model to an MSP where the county can leverage its robustness to contract with one vendor-neutral firm that will be responsible for managing the county’s ever-growing pool of MSP vendors that provide as-needed hourly-based (consulting support) services,” the RFP states. Shifting from the current contracting model to a managed-services provider “will help ensure that work for these types of IT services are more evenly awarded to the county vendor community, including Local Small Businesses, Social Enterprises, Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises and Community Business Enterprises.”
In each of the past three calendar years, the county has spent between $15 million and $30 million on contracted IT support services, executing more than 300 work orders.
“Given the size of the current contractor pool, the county desires the services of one firm to perform the required oversight and management of IT contractors, along with other services as identified in this RFP,” the document states. It notes that the county may spend more or less under a new system than it has in the past few years.
The MSP that’s chosen will be required to establish a “qualified vendor network” (QVN) with various qualified IT contractors who meet county program requirements, along with reporting and tracking, facilitation of candidate evaluation and selection from qualified vendors. The RFP is for a three-year contract, with three one-year extension options and another for six months, meaning a potential contract life of 6.5 years.
The 359-page document lays out numerous requirements and prerequisites for respondents. Among the top qualifications outlined in the RFP are these:
- Proposer must have three years of experience with at least two different customer organizations within the last five years as a primary managed service provider for hourly-based IT consulting resources obtained from a network of vendors, contractors and/or consultants.
- Proposer must have an existing software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that is a web-based, contractor-hosted, fully managed Vendor Managed System (VMS) with associated maintenance and support services.
- Proposer must attend the mandatory proposers’ teleconference.
Before any award, all potential contractors must register in the county’s WebVen database, which can be done online.
Responses to the RFP are due by June 28.
