Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Outsource Service Provider Zensar Contract Approval
Important note: The explanatory text provided through this database (including the summary, implementation actions, identification of related resolutions, and additional information) is an interpretation or an explanation that has no official authority and does not represent the purpose behind the Board actions, nor does any explanations or interpretations modify or override the Resolutions themselves. Resolutions can only be modified through further act of the ICANN Board.
Outsource Service Provider Zensar Contract Approval
Whereas, ICANN organization's Engineering and Information Technology department has a need for continued third-party development, quality assurance and content management support.
Whereas, Zensar has provided good services in software engineering, quality assurance and content management over the last several years.
Whereas, ICANN org conducted a full request for proposal, the results of which led ICANN org to determine that Zensar is still the preferred vendor.
Resolved (2018.03.15.02), the Board authorizes the President and CEO, or his designee(s), to enter into enter into, and make disbursement in furtherance of, a new Zensar contract for a term of 24 months with total cost not to exceed [REDACTED FOR NEGOTIATION PURPOSES]. These costs are based on the current Zensar RFP response and are under negotiation.
Resolved (2018.03.15.03), specific items within this resolution shall remain confidential for negotiation purposes pursuant to Article 3, Section 3.5(b) and (d) of the ICANN Bylaws until the President and CEO determines that the confidential information may be released.
ICANN org's Engineering & IT (E&IT) department has used Zensar to support development, quality assurance and content management needs since November 2014. This relationship has been beneficial to ICANN org and, overall has been a success.
The current three-year contract expired in November 2017 and was extended through March 2018 to allow ICANN org to perform a full request for proposal (RFP).
Eleven vendors were included in the RFP of which six responded. Of these, two were cheaper and three more expensive than Zensar.
The RFP identified that Zensar rates are on par with others that may be interested in supporting this project.
The RFP team estimated that transition costs to move to another vendor would be at least 25% for a period of six months. More expensive vendors were therefore eliminated.
Zensar and the two less expensive applicants were asked to present their proposals and answer questions from the ICANN org team. During the presentations, it was identified that both other applicants did not have sufficient existing resources to support this project for ICANN org and would need to engage additional staff if they were awarded the contract. Staffing up would take time, causing delays. Quality of new staff would be an unknown.
While the RFP was in progress, ICANN org undertook the FY19 budget process and identified the need for reduction in the services contemplated in the RFP to meet future targets. This resulted in a reduction of 2/3 (43 to 15 people) of the outsource contract. This reduction changes ICANN org's needs and hence the services that would be provided by the outsource provider. While Zensar, being the incumbent would accept these reductions, the changes would require additional negotiation with the other RFP responders.
Zensar has three years of ICANN knowledge. Retaining Zensar as the preferred provider ensures continuity in support.
Taking this step is in the fulfilment of ICANN's mission and in the public interest to ensure that ICANN org is utilizing the right third party providers, and to ensure that it is maximizing available resources in a cost efficient and effective manner.
This action will have a fiscal impact on the organization, but that impact has already been anticipated and is covered in the FY18 and FY19 budget. This action will not impact the security, stability and resiliency of the domain name system.
This is an Organizational Administrative Function that does not require public comment.