Some San Diege Layoffs coming at San Diego Data Processing…

[Jumby]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/15/bid-heartens-fans-outsourcing-san-diego/

The city would slash the cost of its computer-support services by 55 percent by hiring a private company, a development that has reinvigorated San Diego leaders who have started a push for outsourcing government jobs.

“I certainly think this will set an example that many of the things that we have paid a certain amount for over a period of years … could certainly be produced for a lot less,” Mayor Jerry Sanders said yesterday in announcing the results of a competitive bid.

Sanders has been pushing for three years to implement managed competition, which would include city workers bidding against outsiders. Despite voter approval, the mayor has been unable to win the support of the City Council or labor unions.

Now there appears to be momentum to get something done.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith has decided to take over negotiations on a competition guide, a step that has blocked progress on managed competition. The move was applauded by labor leaders who say they’ve been frustrated with the outside legal team hired by the city and consider it outsourcing gone wrong.

Goldsmith plans to deliver a speech Wednesday that provides a legal road map to allow the mayor and council to begin competitive bids.

“I’m going to give my thoughts on whether a guide is needed and how much specificity is needed,” Goldsmith said. “I’ve got a mission. I want to work with labor to make it happen.”

Michael Zucchet, general manager of the Municipal Employees Association, the city’s largest union, said he’s willing to work with Goldsmith but didn’t appreciate being informed by a reporter that Goldsmith will now lead negotiations. He said the city hasn’t reached out to his union since October.

“It’s starting to be a bit of a farce,” Zucchet said. “Surprising to some, the unions … would like to sit down, come to an agreement and move on with life.”

A major point of disagreement between Sanders and labor unions is how the city will conduct cost comparisons between employee bids and private bids. Unions want the city to give lower scores to private contractors who don’t provide health care to their workers or who provide less-generous benefits than the city. Their concern is that such companies would gain an unfair cost advantage.

Sanders was able to put information technology up for bid because it’s provided on a contract basis by a nonprofit corporation formed as a city agency.

The mayor chose Gardena-based En Pointe Technologies to take over the city’s help desk and computer support, which had been handled for the past 30 years by the San Diego Data Processing Corp. The agency was created in the late 1970s to help the city compete with the private sector for employees.

En Pointe was one of nine companies that sought the contract after Sanders announced last year that he was putting all of the $45 million in information technology services provided by Data Processing Corp. up for bid. At the time, he said he believed the competition would result in significantly lower costs for taxpayers.

The mayor has split the agency’s services into four parts and plans to bid them separately over the next three years. Yesterday’s selection of En Pointe marks the first phase.

The En Pointe contract could be approved by the City Council as early as next month and would take effect July 1.

The help-desk and computer-support services cost $2.7 million annually under Data Processing Corp.’s current contract. Data Processing Corp. submitted a $1.8 million bid, but En Pointe’s bid was $1.2 million.

Reed Vickerman, chairman of Data Processing Corp., said he was disappointed that the city didn’t select the agency but pledged to bid on future contracts. He also dismissed the idea that the savings provide support for managed competition.

“This is being thrown out there as a test case of managed competition, but it’s really not the same process that’s been contemplated for other areas of the city,” Vickerman said. “This is really more of a traditional (request for proposal).”

Councilman Kevin Faulconer disagreed.

“Today’s announcement reinforces that competition works,” Faulconer said. “It saves money, and when you don’t have competition, you don’t have the incentive.”

As for Sanders, he continues to believe that the lower computer costs are only the beginning.

“We now have tangible proof that our … costs simply don’t have to be this high,” the mayor said.
******************************

In a nutshell, the help desk and desktop support are going bye bye. Systems Engineers are safe…. for now..

[CA renter]

Down, down, down we go…until we are all living in shacks with 20 family members and eating gruel for dinner.

Nice work!

[CA renter]

Down, down, down we go…until we are all living in shacks with 20 family members and eating gruel for dinner.

Nice work!

[CA renter]

Down, down, down we go…until we are all living in shacks with 20 family members and eating gruel for dinner.

Nice work!

[CA renter]

Down, down, down we go…until we are all living in shacks with 20 family members and eating gruel for dinner.

Nice work!

[CA renter]

Down, down, down we go…until we are all living in shacks with 20 family members and eating gruel for dinner.

Nice work!

[DWCAP]

What in the world are you talking about CA Renter? The city slashed its expenses 50%, and dont tell me there wasnt some kinda waste, the city’s bid was 900k less for the services it already provides. That is $1.5million that can be used to hire teachers, police, lifeguards, etc etc etc (or not fire them). That is $1.5 million that can be used to fill budget holes and/or not have to raise taxes. Are city services to never see any kind of financial reality placed upon them, ever?

In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.

[DWCAP]

What in the world are you talking about CA Renter? The city slashed its expenses 50%, and dont tell me there wasnt some kinda waste, the city’s bid was 900k less for the services it already provides. That is $1.5million that can be used to hire teachers, police, lifeguards, etc etc etc (or not fire them). That is $1.5 million that can be used to fill budget holes and/or not have to raise taxes. Are city services to never see any kind of financial reality placed upon them, ever?

In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.

[DWCAP]

What in the world are you talking about CA Renter? The city slashed its expenses 50%, and dont tell me there wasnt some kinda waste, the city’s bid was 900k less for the services it already provides. That is $1.5million that can be used to hire teachers, police, lifeguards, etc etc etc (or not fire them). That is $1.5 million that can be used to fill budget holes and/or not have to raise taxes. Are city services to never see any kind of financial reality placed upon them, ever?

In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.

[DWCAP]

What in the world are you talking about CA Renter? The city slashed its expenses 50%, and dont tell me there wasnt some kinda waste, the city’s bid was 900k less for the services it already provides. That is $1.5million that can be used to hire teachers, police, lifeguards, etc etc etc (or not fire them). That is $1.5 million that can be used to fill budget holes and/or not have to raise taxes. Are city services to never see any kind of financial reality placed upon them, ever?

In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.

[DWCAP]

What in the world are you talking about CA Renter? The city slashed its expenses 50%, and dont tell me there wasnt some kinda waste, the city’s bid was 900k less for the services it already provides. That is $1.5million that can be used to hire teachers, police, lifeguards, etc etc etc (or not fire them). That is $1.5 million that can be used to fill budget holes and/or not have to raise taxes. Are city services to never see any kind of financial reality placed upon them, ever?

In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.

[briansd1]

[quote=DWCAP]
In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.[/quote]

I agree.

My cousin is retired in Florida. She wanted to volunteer at the library. They said that they would call her but never did.

I told her not to hold her breath for a volunteer position. The unions don’t want people to do things that they get paid to do.

Sad to say but it’s all about money these days. Public service is not what it used to be.

I’m sure that there are plenty of people who would love to volunteer in schools and libraries, etc..

[briansd1]

[quote=DWCAP]
In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.[/quote]

I agree.

My cousin is retired in Florida. She wanted to volunteer at the library. They said that they would call her but never did.

I told her not to hold her breath for a volunteer position. The unions don’t want people to do things that they get paid to do.

Sad to say but it’s all about money these days. Public service is not what it used to be.

I’m sure that there are plenty of people who would love to volunteer in schools and libraries, etc..

[briansd1]

[quote=DWCAP]
In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.[/quote]

I agree.

My cousin is retired in Florida. She wanted to volunteer at the library. They said that they would call her but never did.

I told her not to hold her breath for a volunteer position. The unions don’t want people to do things that they get paid to do.

Sad to say but it’s all about money these days. Public service is not what it used to be.

I’m sure that there are plenty of people who would love to volunteer in schools and libraries, etc..

[briansd1]

[quote=DWCAP]
In my opinion they need to do alot more of this. Monopolies are some of the worst run buisness models, competition is good for all of us.[/quote]

I agree.

My cousin is retired in Florida. She wanted to volunteer at the library. They said that they would call her but never did.

I told her not to hold her breath for a volunteer position. The unions don’t want people to do things that they get paid to do.

Sad to say but it’s all about money these days. Public service is not what it used to be.

I’m sure that there are plenty of people who would love to volunteer in schools and libraries, etc..

[Author]

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