It seems the State of Massachussets bought some software from $13-million that only some workers were qualified to use, but they rolled it out on the PC desks of 20,000 workers, triggering higher licensing fees than planned.
The State IG also found the administration rushed the bid through and bypassed bidding rules, effectively eliminating competition.
Now the contract has been canceled.
Cognos is a software firm owned by IBM and the software is used to create business management performance online and printed reports. So, it was a good move to get it, but a bad move to roll it out to everyone. That is like paying to give Oracle to every employee when they don't know anything about databases and would never use it.
Lessons Learned:
- When buying software, always seriously review just who gets it. I remember years ago when a company would buy dBase database software and install it manually on every desktop when many people couldn't even use the word processor.
- Don't "rush" an order and bypass bidding rules, or the IG will getcha.
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Experts say Patrick administration overspent on canceled contract (State of Massachusetts's)
By Associated Press | Tuesday, July 1, 2008 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Politics
BOSTON - Technology analysts say the Patrick administration overspent by millions when it signed a computer software contract that’s since been canceled.
The Boston Globe reported the $13 million price was inflated because the administration distributed the sophisticated management software from Cognos Inc. to 20,000 people. Analysts say many were unqualified to use it.
Ohio spent 75 percent less to distribute the software to 6,000 workers.
The contract was canceled in March after the Inspector General found it was improperly awarded under a rushed process that bypassed bidding rules.
Patrick administration officials say the state did not overspend.
A Cognos sales agent has boasted of his connections to House speaker Salvatore DiMasi, and the company was a major sponsor at a charity golf tournament DiMasi hosted.
A spokesman says DiMasi had no involvement in the bidding process.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/politics/view.bg?articleid=1104353
