South Coast Air Quality Management District

Authorize Purchase of Desktop Operating System Upgrades and Back Office Client Maintenance

SYNOPSIS: 

Currently, AQMD desktop personal computers use Microsoft Windows 95 operating system and Back Office Client software to run standard software applications and access network server resources. This action is to authorize purchase of desktop operating system upgrades to Windows 2000 Professional and Back Office Client software maintenance for a two-year period. This will provide the latest version of the operating system and Back Office Client software for all AQMD desktop computers. Funds for this purchase ($237,000) are included in the FY 2000-01 Budget.

COMMITTEE: 

Administrative, December 8, 2000. Less than a quorum was present during the discussion of this item. Those Committee Members who were present communicated their concurrence.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize purchase of 850 desktop operating system upgrades and Back Office Client software maintenance licenses for a two-year period, and authorize the Procurement Manager to execute all documents for this purchase at an amount not to exceed $237,000.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In fiscal year 1996-97, AQMD upgraded all staff desktop computers to run Microsoft Windows 95 operating system, which at that time was the most appropriate operating system to meet the desktop computing needs of the AQMD. AQMD’s desktop computer hardware has been incrementally upgraded since that time. This newer computer hardware requires the latest operating system. Staff evaluated Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, and Linux and concluded that Windows 2000 Professional would be the best choice based on reliability, security, manageability, networking, hardware support and performance.

AQMD desktop personal computers use the Microsoft Back Office Client software to access Windows NT network services, E-mail, System Management Server, and SQL Server Databases. Maintenance for this client software is required to ensure that AQMD desktop computers are equipped with the latest version of the software. Staff has determined that a two-year client software maintenance support for the existing 850 licenses will provide the optimum service.

Proposal

This action is to authorize the Procurement Manager to execute a purchase order with the vendor providing the lowest cost bid at a total cost not to exceed $237,000. Bids for 850 desktop operating system upgrades and Back Office Client maintenance will be solicited from master agreements, cooperative agreements, or other interagency agreements with governmental entities, and from the firms on the list of prequalified vendors for the Purchase of Computer, Network, Printer, and Related Services in order to achieve the best available price. The prequalified vendor list was approved by the Board on July 9, 1999, and is in effect for a period ending June 30, 2001.

Resource Impacts

Sufficient funds are included in the FY 2000-01 Budget.

Attachments

Software Cost Estimate
 

Software Cost Estimate
 

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