To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Barbara A. Menear, Circuit Court Administrator
title
RE: Approval of a request to extend the contract agreement between Genesee County and West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters), in the total amount of $144,300.96, to provide for electronic legal research
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve contract extension with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) for electronic legal research for a term commencing July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. The contract extension includes an increase of 2% and will not exceed $144,300.96. The 2% increase was included in the original contract.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2024, Circuit Court received authorization to enter into a contract with West Publishing (Thomson Reuters) to provide electronic legal research to county employees (RESO 2024-481). This contract will expire on June 30, 2025.
Electronic legal research is used by judges, judicial law clerks and all other Genesee County employees who are attorneys. The Circuit Court historically managed the contract for convenience and one-point of contact with the vendor.
DISCUSSION:
The State of Michigan has a MiDEAL contract #C20000000622 with West Publishing, Corporation (Thomson Reuters). Under this agreement, local units of government may enter into contracts with West Publishing and take advantage of state negotiated pricing.
A team including courts, prosecutor and public defender was established to review the catalogue of electronic legal research options. This request is to approve a contract extension that satisfies the requirements of all courts and departments for electronic legal research.
Limited hard copy publications are also necessary and subject to a discounted rate with this vendor.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The contract extension was budgeted for fiscal year 24/25. No additional county appropriation is necessary.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This request aligns with the county priority of promoting long term financial stability by taking advantage of the MiDEAL option. Courts and multiple county departments worked in a collaborative manner on the agenda item.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Circuit Court Administrator to authorize amending the Electronic Legal Research contract between Genesee County and West Publishing Corporation (dba, West, a Thomson Reuters business), said amendment being necessary to extend the contract for an additional one-year period commencing July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and to increase the annual cost by 2%, in accordance with the original terms of the contract, to a cost not to exceed $144,300.96 to be paid from the following accounts: 1010-296.01-801.004 ($52,286.16-Prosecutor), 2689-283.02-801.004 ($9,292.65-Legal Resource Center), 2689-283.03-801.004 ($3,097.95-Legal Resource Center), 2689-283.02-801.004 ($42,533.52-Circuit Court), 1010-294.00-801.004 ($5,452.80-Probate Court), 2150-290.00-801.000 ($3,271.68-Friend of the Court), and 2921-283.00-801.004 ($28,366.20-Public Defender), is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the February 19, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract amendment on behalf of Genesee County.