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Franklin County is accepting bids for managed service providers (MSP) for its information technology needs.
The county hired NOC Technology, of Washington, to manage IT in mid-2022. The company was initially hired through the end of 2022, but that was extended through this year.
The county switched to NOC after contracting with AQM since 2017. AQM and the county parted ways after Larry Sikes, who handled the county for AQM after previously serving as county IT director, announced his retirement.
The county had a rough transition, with the switch blamed for the deadline for tax payments being delayed for two weeks after bills were not sent out in time in 2022.
Then, earlier this fall, the county brought the IT director position back in house, hiring Charles “Chuck” Henderson, a former IT director for St. Louis County.
Now Henderson has assembled a selection committee to help commissioners choose a managed service provider. The committee includes officials in other county departments, including the assessor, emergency management and the cybercrimes unit in the sheriff’s department.
“I didn’t include the collector, because the (request for proposals) is in the middle of his peak season,” Henderson told commissioners at a Nov. 16 workshop meeting. “I looked at this not just as a technology decision, but as a business decision. Because I have to make sure that whatever MSP is going to be in here, is going to be able to put my customers first.”
Bids are due to the county by Nov. 28. Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker said it is open to NOC and other companies.
“We won’t know until we see everything,” he said.
The county has a question-and-answer section on the online bid posting, which says the county is planning to in-source its security software because it does not want it tied to the MSP. It adds that it is purchasing new hardware to replace aging network equipment.
The county receives about 340 tickets for computer help requests each month, according to the bid posting. The MSP will work with employees and systems in six county buildings.
The county now spends “at least” $33,000 monthly on managed IT services, it said.
The county’s initial agreement in 2022 paid NOC $32,975 monthly.
The county said its current provider, NOC, would be available to deal with a transition if it is not selected again as MSP.
Commissioners praised the work Henderson is doing, which includes regular written updates.
“We actually know what’s going on now,” Second District Commissioner Dave Hinson said.
“I think we understand the whole department more,” First District Commissioner Todd Boland added.
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