Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Motion 23-245, approving contract with West Publishing for West Proflex Legal Research
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DEPARTMENT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
ORIGINATOR: ELLEN HAGEY
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Ken Klein 6/7/23
PURPOSE: To approve a contract between West Publishing Corporation (West), owned by Thomson Reuters, and Snohomish County for use of West Proflex, a software program and database that is the primary tool for legal research for our deputy prosecuting attorneys in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO), as well as other County officials.
BACKGROUND: The PAO has been using West legal research products (generally known as “Westlaw”) for many years. This latest three-year contract involves West Proflex, a product that includes Westlaw Edge, a module we have been using for the past three years, and a new feature -- “Briefs for Government”. After a two-week trial period in May using West’s latest legal research module, Westlaw Precision, our Criminal DPAs identified the “Briefs” feature as the most useful “add-on” to Westlaw Edge. The cost of adding “Briefs” to the Westlaw Edge module increases our monthly cost by approximately $671 -- from $5,704 per month, to $6,375 per month. The PAO’s 2023 budget can withstand this monthly increase. The contract calls for a 5 percent increase in cost each year (see below for estimates in 2024, and for all three years.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 3 YRS |
002 531521 4126 Criminal |
$4,026.00 |
$53,225.00 |
$167,791.00 |
002 531522 4126 Civil |
0 |
9,583.00 |
$30,210.00 |
506 531522 4126 Tort |
0 |
8,214.00 |
$25,895.00 |
130 50731528 4126 Family Support |
0 |
5,476.00 |
$17,263.00 |
TOTAL |
$4,026.00 |
$76,498.00 |
$241,159.00 |
REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
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TOTAL |
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DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: The fiscal impact for 2023 is approximately an additional $4,026.00 from the General Fund for legal research in the Criminal Division.
CONTRACT INFORMATION:
ORIGINAL |
x |
CONTRACT# |
Q-06934991 |
AMOUNT |
$241,159 (for three yrs) |
AMENDMENT |
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CONTRACT# |
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AMOUNT |
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Contract Period
ORIGINAL |
START |
06/15/23 (approximate) |
END |
06/14/26 (approximate) |
AMENDMENT |
START |
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END |
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OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW/COMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by: Risk Management (Sheila Barker 6/6/23) and Finance (Nathan Kennedy 6/7/23)