The Journal Gazette, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne IN

The potential hiring of one of two foreign-based companies for local government’s information-technology contract has upset at least one member of Fort Wayne City Council.

Councilwoman Karen Goldner, D-2nd, said she was “beyond disappointed” at the plan by the city and Allen County to award a multimillion contract to a company from overseas. She said she was concerned there was no incentive to find a local business to help with the work.

“I, as a city councilwoman, cannot say I want Fort Wayne to develop a technology community and at the same time vote to offshore this contract,” she said. “In my opinion local businesses were not given the consideration they merited.”

Clifford Clark, the city’s chief technology officer, said the city and county decided to take proposals for a new contractor because the existing contract with ACS, a Texas-based company, had gone on for several years without review. He said the city and county also wanted to try to make the contract more performance-based than strictly about how many employees the contractor provided.

Clark said the city received eight proposals, including one from ACS, for the contract. Two finalists have been selected to be interviewed: ATOS Origins, of France, and CMC Limited, of India. Clark said the city did receive some proposals with a “local flavor,” but he expected foreign companies to compete.

“The strongest players in the marketplace are all multinational companies,” he said.

Clark said whichever contract is selected, there will still be local workers involved.

“We’re not having any call centers or work shipped off our shores,” he said.

County Commissioner Nelson Peters said many of the people currently doing work for the county would likely remain and switch to the new contractor. So the tax dollars spent on a new contract would stay here, he said Friday.

Local officials also wanted the vendor to be able to provide employees who specialize in the various software and computer systems used by county government.

Goldner said it is difficult to know what the companies will do in the future to cut costs. She plans to introduce an ordinance Tuesday that would give local companies an edge when competing for professional services or other city contracts.

Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes, R-2nd, said she originally had similar concerns as Goldner, but they have since been allayed. She said after talking with city and county staff, she feels reassured a proper and thorough process was used to select an IT vendor.

“It’s evident they had a fairly intensive vetting process,” she said.

Hughes also said the city and county have received “glowing recommendations” from another government using one of the vendors, which is more than enough assurance for her.

Clark said he expects to bring the contract before the City Council in July or August. The new contract would take place at the start of 2009.

Allen County elected officials will also have to weigh in on the contract. Peters expects a decision to be made by August or September to begin the transition before the current contract with ACS runs out, he said.

Amanda Iacone of The Journal Gazette contributed to this story.

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