STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Government Performance and Financial Management
AGENDA DATE: February 12, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): N/A
DEPARTMENT: City Attorney’s Office
EXECUTIVE: Tammy L. Palomino
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a three-year contract with West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business, for online legal research and associated services utilizing Westlaw for the City Attorney's Office through the Texas Department of Information Resources for the period beginning March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2028 - Not to exceed $725,163.24 - Financing: General Fund (subject to annual appropriations)
Body
BACKGROUND
This contract will provide online legal research capabilities and associated services for the City Attorney's Office (CAO). CAO has a continuous need for computerized legal research, legal references, publications and related materials and services that are only available through West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business (West) to fulfill its obligation to represent the city in all legal matters. Such matters include lawsuits filed against and by the City as well as transactional and advisory services for City Council, the City Manager, boards, commissions, and city departments. West provides access to a comprehensive online legal research system which includes a large volume of case law, statutes, briefs, public records, law review articles, and other related materials. West also includes numerous proprietary databases and indexing features that are not available through any other source and are essential tools for providing accurate and timely legal support to CAO clients. Some key examples of these proprietary databases are Texas specific materials, including Vernon's Annotated Texas Statutes, Texas Practice Guide, Texas Practice Series, Texas Court of Appeals Dockets and Texas Court of Appeals Briefs.
Additionally, the use of a comprehensive database, such as West, provides efficiencies in conducting research and preparing for legal proceedings by eliminating the need to search multiple databases for information. It also ensures that all applicable rules, regulations and citations are available to formulate appropriate and accurate legal opinions.
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) conforms to the requirements of Texas Statutes that are applicable for competitive bid and proposals, in accordance with the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Chapter 791 and Chapter 2175, Texas Government Code. In addition, the DIR receives bids from manufacturers and dealers throughout the United States.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On October 23, 2013, the City Council authorized a three-year contract with West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business, for online legal research and associated services utilizing Westlaw through the Council on Competitive Government for the period beginning October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2016, by Resolution No. 13-1886.
On September 14, 2016, the City Council authorized a three-year contract with West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business, for online legal research and associated services utilizing Westlaw through the Council on Competitive Government for the period beginning October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2019, by Resolution No. 16-1435.
On December 11, 2019, the City Council authorized a three-year contract with West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business, for online legal research and associated services utilizing Westlaw through the Council on Competitive Government for the period beginning October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022, by Resolution No. 19-1847.
On February 9, 2022, the City Council authorized a three-year contract with West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business, for online legal research and associated services utilizing Westlaw for the City Attorney's Office through the Texas Department of Information Resources for the period beginning March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2025, by Resolution No. 22-0333.
The Government Performance and Financial Management Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on January 28, 2025. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13698307&GUID=0990A9AD-11AB-4F3F-9C2F-CCD0F75E8C9A>
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2025 |
FY 2026 |
Future Years |
|
General Fund |
$134,183.00 |
$236,737.15 |
$354,243.09 |
M/WBE INFORMATION
In accordance with the City’s Business Inclusion and Development Policy adopted on September 23, 2020, by Resolution No. 20-1430, as amended, the M/WBE participation on this contract is as follows:
|
Contract Amount |
Procurement Category |
M/WBE Goal |
|
$725,163.24 |
Professional Services |
N/A |
|
M/WBE Subcontracting % |
M/WBE Overall % |
M/WBE Overall Participation $ |
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
• The Business Inclusion and Development Policy does not apply to Cooperative Purchasing Agreements. |
|
• West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business - Non-local; Workforce - 0.00% Local |
PROCUREMENT INFORMATION
Method of Evaluation for Award Type:
|
Cooperative Purchasing Agreement |
• Cooperative purchasing agreements enable the City to associate with State agencies, other local governments, or local cooperative organizations comprised of other state and local governments, to leverage market buying power and enable the City to purchase goods or services at lower prices |
|
|
• The cooperative purchasing agreement is an alternative method of meeting the requirements for competitive bidding or competitive sealed proposals, not an exception from that requirement |
OWNER/EXECUTIVE
West Publishing Corporation d/b/a West, a Thomson Reuters business
610 Opperman Drive
Eagan, MN 55123
Steve Hasker, President/Chief Executive Officer