To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marc Shorr, Information Technology Director
Report Title: Purchase Order with AMS.NET under the Fast Open Contracts Utilization Services Program
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Chief Information Officer, execute a purchase order(s) with AMS.NET in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for the County's use of the Fast Open Contracts Utilization Services (FOCUS) Program, as a cooperative procurement vehicle for the acquisition of technology goods and services, for the period of September 15, 2025, through May 17, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this product is included in the Department's FY 25/26 budget. 100% User Departments.
BACKGROUND:
The FOCUS contract will serve as a streamlined and flexible procurement option, enabling the Department of Information Technology to efficiently obtain advanced technology products and services through AMS.net. Planned uses of this contract include potential acquisitions from key providers such as Singlewire Software, VMware, Rubrik, and IBM, supporting critical County initiatives in areas such as communications, virtualization, data protection, and enterprise systems. The contract may also be utilized for ongoing technology modernization and maintenance to ensure secure and reliable County operations. Leveraging this contract allows the County to respond quickly to evolving technology requirements while maintaining compliance and operational continuity.
The FOCUS Program (Fast Open Contracts Utilization Services), established by Merced County through a competitive public solicitation (RFP No. 7370), provides a pre-qualified, legally compliant cooperative contracting vehicle for California local governments and other eligible public entities. The program was developed in accordance with California Government Code 25330-25338 and public procurement best practices. FOCUS al...
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