Council is not set to vote on the three-year, $2.4 million contract until Thursday
TRENTON -- The city's new IT contractor started work on Monday, even though it has yet to receive approval from City Council.
File photo of Trenton City Hall on E. State St. Columbus-based FCC Consulting Services replaced the city's longtime IT provider ADPC Inc. this week, but council is not set to vote on the three-year, $2.4 million contract until Thursday.
"This is criminal," Councilman George Muschal said. "How can you give a company the authority to go in and get these passwords for the City of Trenton ... when they're not even authorized."
Business Administrator Terry McEwen said the two-month RFP process to choose a new vendor concluded with the recommendation of FCC.
"That vendor has agreed to assist us over the next four days to ensure the integrity of the systems," he said.
He said the procurement process allows the city to have access to a firm pending council's approval when it is necessary, as is the case with maintaining the city's hardware and software systems.
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Acting Law Director Marc McKithen said the move does not tie the hands of council or disregard its vote come Thursday.
"There was no way for either firm to be extended without a contract and this is the first opportunity the city has to get approval from council," he said. "Was it better to go with the old firm with no contract or the new firm with no contract? That is a choice the administration had to make."
Of the 12 firms that submitted a bid, ADPC and FCC were the ninth- and tenth-highest bidders, respectively, but McEwen and McKithen said that cost was one of many factors that were considered in making a decision, including technical skill sets, experience and level of management.
"Bid price is not the defining criteria," McKithen said. "It's one of many factors that we consider, but we're looking at the overall best proposal."
ADPC has provided IT services for the city for 28 years. In years past, the city has tried to cancel or not extend contracts with ADPC, leading to several lawsuits and a scolding from a Mercer County Superior Court judge.
McEwen said that FCC understands that its contract is still pending the approval of council.
The transition from ADPC to FCC is still ongoing and issues are still being worked through, McKithen said.
"It's not a matter of handing over keys," he said.
If council rejects FCC's contract on Thursday, the city would have to go through the RFP process again and present a recommendation to council.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," McKithen said.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
