DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Intelligence Platform Solution for the Economic Development Department and San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with mySidewalk, Inc. to provide a cloud-based platform in the estimated amount of $182,500.00 over a five-year period for the Economic Development Department (EDD) to track key data and metrics on Opportunity Zones, and for the San Antonio Metro Health District (SAMHD) to improve implementation and tracking of the SAMHD strategic plan and other public health priorities. The first-year cost of $38,500.00 is available from the FY 2021 General Fund Budget. Funding for subsequent years is contingent upon City Council approval of the annual budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for Council consideration and action is the proposal from mySidewalk, Inc. to provide a cloud-based platform consisting of a public-facing dashboard and data driven environment which will assist the city in tracking, analyzing, and communicating data to improve outcomes, decision-making, and community education and engagement. This platform enables a decision maker/data owner to utilize predefined or custom templates to visualize data in a user-friendly and accessible format. This platform will be utilized for EDD and SAMHD initiatives.
Economic Development Department- Opportunity Zones
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created the Opportunity Zones Tax Incentive encouraging long-term investment in distressed areas. The tax incentive was projected to attract a significant amount of capital investment to distressed communities that otherwise would not see the investment. Many cities across the nation have competitively ramped up efforts to market their opportunity zones. An interactive, cloud-based platform will allow key data and metrics to be compiled, tracked, and exhibited in a strategic, insightful, and visually enhanced manner.
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District - Strategic Plan
Similarly, SAMHD is seeking a tool to significantly improve its method of implementing, tracking, and communicating its strategic plan and other priority health issue plans. The requested platform will significantly improve SAMHD’s ability to track, analyze, and communicate progress of its strategic plan, and it will effectively engage the community and stakeholders. We have learned from the pandemic that it is imperative for SAMHD to continue engaging the community as we recover from the effects of COVID-19 and focus on mitigating the health disparities laid bare by the pandemic.
The City issued a Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFCSP) for an Intelligence Platform Solution for Economic Development and Metro Health Departments (RFCSP 20-066, RFX 6100012075) on March 2, 2020, with a submission deadline of May 11, 2020. The RFCSP was seeking either a Cloud Based or On-Premise’s solution. The City received a total of five responses and all responses were deemed eligible for evaluation. Two responses were received for Category A, On-Premises Solution which allows the city to utilize the functionality of the software and host and maintain the data and configurations, on site, on City servers. Three responses were received for Category B, Cloud-Based Solution which allows the City to utilize the functionality of the software while using a cloud-based platform to host and maintain data and configurations.
The evaluation committee consisted of representatives from the Economic Development Department, Metro Health District, and the Information Technology Services Department. The Finance Department, Purchasing Division assisted by ensuring compliance with City procurement policies and procedures. The evaluation of each proposal was based on a total of 100 points: 35 points allotted for experience, background, qualifications; 45 points allotted for proposed plan; and 20 points allotted for respondent’s price schedule.
On November 18, 2020, the evaluation committee met to score the proposals. Once individual scores were submitted and finalized, aggregate scores for each respondent were then presented. mySidewalk, Inc. received the highest ranking and is recommended for award for Category B, Cloud-Based Solution by the evaluation committee. No award was recommended for Category A, On-Premises Solution.
The initial term of the agreement shall begin after the effective date of the ordinance awarding the contract, and upon execution by all parties. The contract term, including the license and maintenance and support, shall continue in full force and effect for a one-year period after implementation of all services. Four additional, one-year periods, at the City’s option shall also be authorized by this ordinance.
ISSUE:
This contract will provide a cloud-based platform for the purpose of enhancing tracking and reporting capabilities for EDD and SAMHD.
This contract is within the scope of the SBEDA Program. However, due to lack of available firms and/or subcontracting opportunities, the Goal Setting Committee was unable to apply a SBEDA tool to this contract.
This contract is an exception to the Local Preference Program.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Preference Program does not apply to non-professional service contracts, so no preference was applied to this contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be approved, both EDD and SAMHD would have to rely on outdated tools and methods for adopting and communicating their plans to the public. This will significantly hinder the ability to highlight San Antonio’s opportunity zones, attract community investment, and engage residents and stakeholders in addressing priority health issues, all of which adversely affect San Antonio’s health, livelihood, and economic growth.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a contract with mySidewalk, Inc., for a cloud-based solution in the estimated amount of $182,500.00 over a five-year period. The first-year cost of $38,500.00 is available from the FY 2021 General Fund Budget. Funding for subsequent years is contingent upon City Council approval of the annual budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this contract with mySidewalk, Inc. to provide a cloud-based platform for the purpose of enhancing tracking and reporting capabilities for the EDD and the SAMHD, for an estimated total contract amount of $182,500.00 over a five-year period.
This contract was procured on the basis of Competitive Sealed Proposals and a Contract Disclosure Form is required.