Report Prepared by: Jeff Bennyhoff, I.T. Director, Information Technology
Title
SUBJECT: Contract Amendment for a Custom Modification Testing System
REPORT IN BRIEF
Amend the contract with SunGard for a custom modification testing system for $16,800.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving the contract amendment with SunGard; and, authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by Staff; or
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer to Staff for further evaluation.
AUTHORITY
Section 3.04.120 of the Merced Municipal Code.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2015-2016 adopted budget.
DISCUSSION
The City has used the SunGard software suite for many of the City’s critical business needs for the last 25 years. This software suite runs payroll, utility billing, GMBA, business licenses, building permits, and more. The City has made custom modifications to these programs to fit the needs of each department. These custom modifications were made with older technology for which it is hard to find qualified personnel to support. On May 16, 2016 council approved a contract with Thor Group for $165,000 to maintain these custom modifications to make sure the City’s core business functions remain operational.
This amendment to the SunGard contract would provide the City a custom modification reduction testing system. This system will allow the City to re-evaluate the base SunGard system that does not have any custom modifications. This is the first step to weaning ourselves off the custom modifications and the expense that goes with maintaining these modifications. The City currently has over 2,400 modifications to the system. Many of these modifications to the system were made decades ago when the base SunGard system did not have the ability to perform certain operations that City employee’s required. SunGard has enhanced their system over the years to include in the base product offering many of the features that were custom-created for the City. This reduction testing system will safely allow the city to test these enhancements without affecting the day-to-day operations of the City.
The City needs to continue to work on moving off custom modifications to make the system sustainable for future years of operations. It will take several years to remove most of the custom modifications. In a future fiscal year a replacement software suite may need to be acquired. Typically these software solutions cost approximately $750,000 for a City with our size population.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funding is available within the adopted Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. SunGard Naviline Test Environment Quote