MONROE - Members of the City of Monroe Ad Hoc Technology Committee decided more than a year ago to search the web of area computer service contractors for one that might offer the city a better deal.
The results of that search are set to culminate in a vendor recommendation to the city's Finance and Taxation Committee by next Tuesday, Oct. 19.
"We thought we would see what else is out there," committee chairman Rob Jacobson said of the decision to seek new technology proposals.
One reason for the search, he added, is "because technology changes so quickly in the computer industry."
Systems Management Group, Inc. (SMG), Monroe, has had a service contract with the city since 1990. That contract is due to end Dec. 31. The city's Finance and Taxation Committee notified SMG of its intent not to renew the contract in August.
As a result, SMG and two other local computer technology companies are now in competition for the city's 2011 computer services contract, valued at about $30,000.
Computer Know How LLC (CKH) of Brodhead, K2 IT Solutions LLC of Monroe and SMG have submitted service proposals to the city.
Each company will make presentations to the city's Information Technology (IT) Advisory Committee. The hour-long presentations start at 9 a.m. today.
Jacobson said he hopes that a pair of independent written reviews of the proposals - from technology directors in other Wisconsin municipalities - are available for committee members to consider today.
But Jacobson does not expect the committee to make a hiring recommendation until Oct. 18. The city has the option of splitting the contract to fulfill the city's computer service needs, or using a single vendor.
Its recommendation will go to the Finance and Taxation Committee for further review and an eventual vote.
The Finance and Taxation Committee budgeted $30,000 for the Information Technology account during its Oct. 6 meeting.
SMG bid $32,000 for services in 2011. K2 IT Solutions proposed a cost of $34,000 annually with a 5-year contract. CKH offered to sell "banks" of hours, in 20-hour increments, at $75 per hour. CKH said in it proposal that it normally charges $85 per hour for its services.
In a related matter, the county's Finance and Accounting Committee is set to meet at 7:30 p.m. today. The agenda includes a closed session to discuss the county's data processing contract, followed by an open session at about 8 p.m. for possible action regarding the matters discussed in closed session. The same three companies submitted proposals to the county.
The results of that search are set to culminate in a vendor recommendation to the city's Finance and Taxation Committee by next Tuesday, Oct. 19.
"We thought we would see what else is out there," committee chairman Rob Jacobson said of the decision to seek new technology proposals.
One reason for the search, he added, is "because technology changes so quickly in the computer industry."
Systems Management Group, Inc. (SMG), Monroe, has had a service contract with the city since 1990. That contract is due to end Dec. 31. The city's Finance and Taxation Committee notified SMG of its intent not to renew the contract in August.
As a result, SMG and two other local computer technology companies are now in competition for the city's 2011 computer services contract, valued at about $30,000.
Computer Know How LLC (CKH) of Brodhead, K2 IT Solutions LLC of Monroe and SMG have submitted service proposals to the city.
Each company will make presentations to the city's Information Technology (IT) Advisory Committee. The hour-long presentations start at 9 a.m. today.
Jacobson said he hopes that a pair of independent written reviews of the proposals - from technology directors in other Wisconsin municipalities - are available for committee members to consider today.
But Jacobson does not expect the committee to make a hiring recommendation until Oct. 18. The city has the option of splitting the contract to fulfill the city's computer service needs, or using a single vendor.
Its recommendation will go to the Finance and Taxation Committee for further review and an eventual vote.
The Finance and Taxation Committee budgeted $30,000 for the Information Technology account during its Oct. 6 meeting.
SMG bid $32,000 for services in 2011. K2 IT Solutions proposed a cost of $34,000 annually with a 5-year contract. CKH offered to sell "banks" of hours, in 20-hour increments, at $75 per hour. CKH said in it proposal that it normally charges $85 per hour for its services.
In a related matter, the county's Finance and Accounting Committee is set to meet at 7:30 p.m. today. The agenda includes a closed session to discuss the county's data processing contract, followed by an open session at about 8 p.m. for possible action regarding the matters discussed in closed session. The same three companies submitted proposals to the county.