Title
Child Support Services recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the addition of one (1) Palo Alto Networks PA-3220 firewall to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget Fixed Asset list in the amount of $12,406;
2) Make findings in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17, Section 3.4 (4), that the agreement with Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is exempt from Competitive Bidding due to a competitively bid agreement being utilized;
3) Authorize the use of Utah NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement AR3229 and State of California Participating Addendum number 7-20-70-47-06 with Palo Alto Networks, inc. for the competitively bid services, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk management approval;
4) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to ePlus Technology Inc. in the amount of $42,394.06 for the purchase of a Palo Alto Networks PA-3220 firewall and support services for a three-year period; and
5) Approve and authorize a budget amendment to increase the Child Support Services state and federal revenue and appropriations budget by $22,402 for Fiscal Year 2022-23, due to an increase in allocation from the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), to cover IT security upgrade costs (4/5 vote required).
FUNDING: State and Federal funding resulting from increase in allocation by DCSS.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In order to comply with the findings of a recent IRS audit, it is necessary to upgrade the Child Support Services firewall in order to better encrypt and protect all child support data traffic.
The total of this upgrade will come to approximately $42,394.06, which includes the cost of the hardware, tax, and a three-year service contract.
The Department requested additional funding from DCSS to cover this cost. This request was approved to cover the cost of the hardware and the first year of the service contracts, but federal requirements disallow pre-paying contracts for more than one year. IT has indicated that they would be able to cover the remaining cost and DCSS has committed to making the funds available in years 2 and 3 to pay that back.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board choose not to approve this request, the Department will not be able to purchase the equipment necessary to resolve this audit finding.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Information Technologies, County Counsel and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of the hardware, including tax, is $12,405.10 and the first year of service is $9,996.32, for a total of $22,401.42 which will be provided by the State Department of Child Support Services in the form of reallocation funds. The remaining costs for years two and three comes to $19,992.64, which will be paid with funding provided by the State Department of Child Support Services at a rate of $9,996.32 in each of Fiscal Years 2023-24 and 2024-25.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair’s signature on the budget transfer form and send to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Ron Ladage, Director
Department of Child Support Services
Tonya Digiorno, Director
Information Technologies