[OS:N:] promoting OSS to cities

["Allan R. Batteiger" <arb rtsi com>]

Robert Citek <rwcitek alum calberkeley org>

>However, my question was not about distributing software, but rather how do
>I become more aware of the process by which cities make purchasing
>decisions.  From the USAToday article, it sounds as though purchases by a
>city must follow some bureaucratic process:
> the city announces the plan to purchase software
> there is some group meeting with vendors
> people/companies bid
> the city choses one (or more?) of the bids
>
>But all this is just my guess from reading the article.  How do I learn
>more about this process?  Whom do I contact?  If my brief outline is
>correct or close to correct, how do I find out about city announcements?
>Where are these meetings held?  When?  etc. ...  

Your basic process is correct, however it varies to some degree by
agency.
Most agencies have a purchasing www site or purchasing dept.  They can
give you details on the exact processes used.  However there is a catch
in all of this.
When the item to be purchased is sole source (M$soft) public bidding is
not always required.  Your best bet is to as the saying goes "follow the
money", find out who is in charge of purchasing software and support
contracts for software, this is usually an IT department person.  Until
they believe there is something as good or better than what they are
currently using and will save them money you are most likely spinning
your wheels.  
	The other option is to have someone in an agency become your OSS
champion.  I have working with some people in various agencies who must
work with Unix / Windows / RTOS's etc., and they are always looking for
a way to make their life simpler.  I now have some of them using
Openoffice / StarOffice. Since they can get the same software now to run
on multiple platforms their life is simpler, and the cost does not
require a contract to purchase.  They have now become the insider
pushing for OSS.  
	The biggest problem with either approach is momentum.  It is easy to
say no to change and stay with what you have been using.  Someone can
always find a study or reason why it is to "Expensive" to change to OSS.

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