To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Purchase Order with ePlus Technology, Inc. for Cisco SmartNet Maintenance and Support
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Chief Information Officer, to execute a purchase order with ePlus Technology, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $1,874,000 for the purchase of Cisco SmartNet Maintenance and Support, subject to Cisco’s Terms of Sale and Software License Agreement, for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this product is included in the Department’s FY 25-26 budget. 100% User Departments.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Information Technology's (DoIT’s) technical staff currently procures and deploys Cisco networking equipment and products across various county departments. Cisco equipment underpins the County’s core network services, telephone systems, and plays a crucial role in ensuring internet security. Cisco SmartNet is a comprehensive support service designed to help organizations maintain and optimize their Cisco networking products and ensures DoIT staff can interact with Cisco’s Technical Assistant Center (TAC) for timely issue resolution.
By utilizing Cisco SmartNet for all Cisco hardware and licensing used countywide, the County can ensure that it’s networking infrastructure is reliable, up-to-date, and supported, ultimately reducing downtime and improving overall network performance.
ePlus Technology, Inc. is an authorized re-seller of Cisco SmartNet and was selected through RFP_F-Contr-0000000067, to provide Cisco SmartNet Maintenance and Support for three (3) years, with the option for one (2) additional one-year renewal/extensions.This purchase is being financed through a third-party lease agreement with ePlus Group, Inc., who is a financing partner of ePlus Technology, Inc. The interest rate for this financing schedule is 0.0%.
Cisco’s Terms and Conditions include a limitation of liability which states: Each party’s total aggregate liability is limited to the money paid to Cisco under these Terms of Sale during the twelve (12) month period prior to the event that first gave rise to such liability.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Not utilizing Cisco SmartNet could lead to increased operational risks, higher costs, and potential security issues, affecting the overall efficiency and resilience of the County’s core network.