Title
Library eCARD Customer Online Verification & Services Contract - EXC 23-048 - Request for Award (Ordinance S-49532)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a contract with The Quipu Group, LLC to provide customer identity verification services for the Library Department. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The total value of the contract will not exceed $249,260.
Report
Summary
This contract will provide the Library Department the ability to purchase services, which include eCARD library registrations or renewals, hosting/access, unlimited basic name and address verifications, maintenance, and support. This contract allows for optional purchases of add-on services such as multi-factor authentication, which adds challenge questions as an additional layer of verification, and Patron Incident Tracking Systems, which is used to assist library staff to record and track security incidents from patrons. The adoption of this contract improves customer service, reduces staff time, and is necessary for citywide library operations.
This item has been reviewed and approved by the Information Technology Services Department.
Procurement Information
In accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10, standard competition was waived as a result of an approved Determination Memo based on the following reason: Special Circumstances - Without Competition. The Library Department has been using The Quipu Group, LLC's technology since 2014, which was created for the City and it added new functionality for customers to renew library card accounts online. This technology developed by the vendor provides efficient customer service and resides on Phoenix library servers to meet City security standards. Entering into a contract with this vendor reduces any risk associated with having to create custom software from a different vendor, ensures that city libraries continue to get seamless customer support, and best aligns with the department's needs.
Contract Term
The contract will begin on or about July 01, 2023, for a five-year term with no options to extend.
Financial Impact
The aggregate contract value will not exceed $249,260 for the five-year aggregate term.
Funding is available in the Library Department operating budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Library Department.