Title
County Counsel recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize County Counsel to sign perpetual Agreement 6721 with LexisNexis, a division of RELX, Inc., to provide online legal research services for a total amount of $47,490 for an initial four-year period, from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2026; and
2) Authorize County Counsel to execute further documents relating to Agreement 6721, including amendments that do not increase the maximum dollar amount or alter the term of the Agreement, contingent upon approval by Risk Management.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
LexisNexis provides online legal research databases which contain a variety of legal publications, case law, treatises, and legal resources. Access to these resources is necessary for County Counsel’s Office to be able to conduct in-depth legal research and provide legal advice to the County and its departments. Since the late 1980’s, County Counsel’s Office has been using comparable legal research subscription services either through West Publishing or LexisNexis. The current subscription contract is with West Publishing which is set to expire this year, and LexisNexis has offered a lower discounted pricing.
The agreement with LexisNexis is for an initial four-year term, effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2026, with the first 6 months offered at no cost. Upon expiration of the initial term, the agreement will renew for successive one-year terms subject to notice of non-renewal thirty days' prior to the expiration of the then-current term. The following is a breakdown of the monthly cost:
July 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022: $0
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023: $1,080
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024: $1,124
January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026: $1,169
If County Counsel requests to continue the agreement beyond the initial term, County Counsel will return to the Board for annual approval of the agreement, pursuant to the requirement of El Dorado County Policy C-17, Procurement Policy.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to authorize this agreement and the contract with Westlaw could be extended at a higher cost.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Previous agreements for online legal research subscription were approved on June 11, 2019 Legistar File ID 19-0821, on May 13, 2016 Legistar File ID 16-0548, and on June 18, 2013 Legistar File ID 13-0770.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost for the Agreement for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 is included in County Counsel’s FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget. The cost for subsequent fiscal years will be included in County Counsel’s budget request.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
David A. Livingston, County Counsel