To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Contract Amendment with Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Information Officer, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC, to increase the payment limit by $180,000 to a new payment limit of $400,000 and extend the term through October 31, 2025, to provide IBM System Z Mainframe Operating System services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost is budgeted within the Department's FY 23/24 budget (100% User Departments)
BACKGROUND:
The County uses the IBM System Z mainframe operating system on its mainframe servers. During the term of the contract, Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC, will work with County employees, under the direction of the Chief Information Officer, to provide IBM System Z mainframe operating system support on an as-needed basis, including without limitation, general trouble-shooting assistance, application support, and system software administration. The contract includes provisions requiring the contractor to indemnify the County for any claims for infringement of a third party’s intellectual property rights to the extent the infringement claims are based on Contractor’s performance of support services under the contract.
The current contract with Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC was approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 14, 2021, for an amount up to $220,000 with the term of November 1, 2021, through October 31, 2023. This amendment request to extend the contract is necessary for continued support and continuity of knowledgeable service to ensure ongoing security, reliability, and efficiency of the County mainframe.
Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC is considered the sole source provider for the County’s mainframe services. This stems from their extensive involvement in the installation and upgrade work on the z-series mainframe. The Support Engineer provided with Sirius has played a crucial role in maintaining the mainframe’s operation efficiency. Specifically, Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in the County’s unique mainframe environment, including the specialized IDMS database software, including various versions and customizations. This expertise has proven invaluable with the specific mainframe setup. The unique nature of the IDMS environment makes Sirius Computer Solutions, LLC the only suitable and efficient option for ensuring the uninterrupted operation of our mainframe, making it a sole source purchase.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved the County’s critical mainframe production job processing can negatively impact Finance, Land Information Systems (Assessor, Tax Collector & Auditor Controller) and Property Tax Systems (Secured, Unsecured, Redemption and Delinquent).