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Local governments need flexible procurement policies as they work to acquire up-to-date technology
Streamlining procurement processes is a top 10 priority among local government IT officials. That’s one of the findings in the new “2022 CompTIA Public Technology Institute (PTI) State of City and County IT National Survey” from CompTIA.
“Our latest 2022 local government survey has procurement as one of its top priorities for the first time—ranked number eight,” says Dr. Alan R. Shark, vice president public sector and executive director of the CompTIA Public Technology Institute (PTI). The survey shows the following as the top three city/county CIO technology priorities over the next two years:
- Cybersecurity/data loss prevention
2. Modernizing outdated IT systems
3. Innovation
On the subject of IT procurement, Shark says it is crucial that an agency’s procurement rules allow for expediting purchases as well as permitting more sole-source opportunities. “Today’s IT environment requires flexibility and being agile. Such flexibility also includes the recognition that sole-source can often be the best solution, especially when it is well documented, and time is of the essence.”
Shark spotlights some key considerations for cities-counties when they buy technology. “The most important thing for local governments is to have some degree of flexibility when making purchases and recognizing that the cheapest solution can often be the poorer choice.” He adds that local governments need to do a better job of understanding the total cost of a product or service which includes ongoing required upgrades, training and maintenance. “There is a need for greater flexibility in choosing various product configurations taking into account volume discounts as well as speed of delivery.”
Local governments typically operate under state purchasing regulations as well as local policies when they do technology buys. Shark says he’s heard complaints that purchasing policies and procedures are often outdated, too restrictive and in some instances, out of sync with state procedures.
To read the complete article, visit American City & County.
