Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
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Motion 26-304, approving contract with West Publishing for West Proflex Legal Research
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DEPARTMENT: Prosecuting Attorney
ORIGINATOR: Coltin Hardy
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Alessandra Szebenyi 8/4/26
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, and the previous 3-year contract was approved in motion 23-245. The PAO's current contract is up for renewal and DPAs heavily rely on this system. The renewal was originally set at a 12% increase for a 12-month period, but the vendor is allowing contract renewal at the previous terms of 5% increases, each year, for a 3-year period. Entering the contract of 3 years at 5% per year, as opposed to 1-year increments at 12% per year will save $36,007.32, but requires council approval as the 3-year term totals $254,022. Below are estimates for all three years of the contract. Per SCC 3.04.015(1)(g) this procurement is exempt from competitive requirements because it is required for the prosecution of litigation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU
CURRENT YR
2ND YR
1ST 6 YRS
002 531521 4126 Criminal
$56,076.45
$58,880.27
$176,781.00
002 531522 4126 Civil
$10,125.61
$10,631.90
$31,921.00
506 531522 4126 Tort
$8,626.17
$9,057.48
$27,194.00
130 50731528 4126 Family Support
$5,749.72
$6,037.21
$18,126.00
TOTAL
$80,577.98
$84,606.86
$254,022.00
REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE
CURRENT YR
2ND YR
1ST 6 YRS
TOTAL
DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: The fiscal impact is a fixed 5%/yr increase to current expens...
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