To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: EXECUTE NEW CONTRACT WITH KARPEL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation FOR DEFENDER BY KARPEL SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE AND ONE-TIME LICENSING FEES.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a new contract with Karpel Computer Systems, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $227,384.20, for the purchase of 60 additional licenses and to provide hosting, support, and maintenance for the public defense case management system for an initial term through August 31, 2027, with an automatic annual renewal subject to cost increases of no more than five percent per annum.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This contract will be utilized by the Public Defender’s Office, Alternate Defender’s Office, and the Conflicts Panels Program (services provided by Independent Counsel, Inc.) and fully funded by existing General funds allocated to each program. The total contract amount comprises annual application hosting, maintenance, support services for up to 240 users, and one-time licensing fees of up to $ 1,376.37 per user. Annual fees will only be charged up to the number of active users. Annual and license fees will be funded by the user department/program, all of which will utilize existing General Fund allocations.
The 60 new one-time licensing fees being purchased herein shall not exceed $82,594.20, with additional fees for the licenses and for hosting, support and maintenance in the amount of $144,790 through the end of the initial term on August 31, 2027. The contract will have an automatic annual renewal at the end of the initial term through August 31, 2027, subject to cost increases of no more than five percent per annum.
BACKGROUND:
The County’s justice information systems are planned, coordinated and implemented by the Law & Justice Information Systems Division of the County Administrator’s Office, on behalf of the District Attorney, Probation and Public Defender departments, as well as all local law enforcement agencies with respect to the justice information network and countywide automated warrant system.
On March 2nd, 2021, the Board authorized the County Administrator to execute a hosting, maintenance and support agreement with Karpel solutions for the Public Defender’s case management system. This first amendment on September 1st, 2023, increased the user licenses from 144 users to 175 users, which was covered under the current approved budget. In September 2025, the number of users rose to 180, which was still within the scope of the currently approved budget.
On March 24th, 2026, Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), a private equity firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, announced its acquisition of Karpel Computer Systems, Inc. (“Karpel”). As part of that acquisition, Karpel is changing its name to “Karpel Computer Systems, Inc., A Delaware Corporation”.
The Public Defender’s Office requests additional users to support growth in both the Public and Alternate Defender’s Office and address increased access needs for the Conflicts Panels Program. This will ensure all defense attorneys have access to the same tools and platforms as their counterparts. Providing these resources continues automation efficiencies and extends digital access equitably.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Disapproval of this recommendation would prevent County public defense programs, including the Public Defender’s Office, Alternate Defender’s Office, and Conflicts Panels Program from performing required duties, as staff would be unable to access case data referred to by the District Attorney’s Office or receive court events through the system interfaces.