San Diego County details giant outsourcing deal
San Diego County chief administrative officer Walt Ekard says the cost for upgrading the county's computer and telephone systems is $644 million.
CSC won the county's recommendation as the prime contractor for the outsourcing deal two weeks ago. San Diego County chief administrative officer Walt Ekard announced Friday that the cost for upgrading the county's computer and telephone systems is $644 million. The proposal will be brought before the county's board of supervisors on October 26.
Analysts had estimated the deal to be worth between $700 million and $1 billion.
If the seven-year contract is approved by the board, it would be the largest information outsourcing project carried out by a local government agency in the United States, El Segundo, California-based CSC said in a statement.
The proposed contract calls for every desktop computer used by a San Diego County employee to be replaced within 36 months of the start of the contract and replaced again over the following 48 months. In addition, all telephones will be replaced within the first 12 months, the company said.
CSC would also run the county's data centers and networks, along with providing user support, security management, and other functions.
In addition, CSC will construct Web sites and kiosks that will provide a directory of county services, government forms and applications, job postings, animal shelter information, and a calendar of events.
Computer services giants EDS and IBM Global services also submitted bids. CSC is partnering with San Diego-based Science Applications, Pacific Bell, and Lucent Technologies.