To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Thomson Reuters West purchase order amendment
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute on behalf of the Public Defender, a purchase order amendment with Thomson Reuters, to increase the payment limit by $30,857 to a new payment limit of $151,308 for the subscription to Thomson Reuters’ digital product CLEAR for legal research purposes, with no change in the term ending December 31, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% County General Fund
BACKGROUND:
The Public Defender’s Office (CCPD) seeks to renew a subscription to Thomson Reuters’ CLEAR product, an online research engine that provides investigators in the CCPD with access to real-time data, public proprietary records, and web analytics. Thomson Reuters provides reference materials, online subscription services, and access to various printed civil and legal publications. These reference and research tools are essential components of effective legal and civil representation. Thomson Reuters offers its products to government agencies at a 55% discount on their standard pricing.
The Department is seeking an amendment to the purchase order to increase the payment limit to reflect the correct amount to be paid for vendor services. There have been no changes to scope of work, nor have additional services been added to the existing purchase order.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
CCPD investigators will not have access to the real-time data, records, and analytics provided by the online research engine.