Information technology equipment and services are rapidly becoming critical to every aspect of a public entity’s daily operation, from providing free Wi-Fi in downtown areas to upgrading a police department’s dispatch system, as well as creating large scale systems for public records data retention and enhancing a city’s fiber-optic network to provide ultra-high speed internet use for businesses.
Public scrutiny of an agency’s purchase and implementation of IT equipment and services is very high because of the costs and public interest, and members of the community often directly use the equipment and services (such as on-line communications with municipal entities) or it directly affects their health and safety (such as in-vehicle communications systems for fire protection services).
This webinar is designed to help public entities avoid the potential pitfalls in IT agreements and incorporate best practices when negotiating and managing IT contracts. Meyers Nave Principal Richard Pio Roda provides real-life examples of a variety of IT equipment and services agreements that he has negotiated on behalf of cities and special districts. He explains the primary areas of contractual risk and share advice on best practices for addressing each one. Topics he covers include:
- Key contractual differences and risks between purchasing, leasing and licensing
- Special considerations for Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Long-term service agreements – performance guarantees, prolonged start-up risks, warranties vs. scheduled maintenance vs. extra work, termination damages
- New terms and conditions in software procurement and computer system integration services contracts that improve the security and protection of the public entity