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Clark council awards cybersecurity managed-services contract to LawSoft after review of nine proposals
Summary
The council awarded a managed cybersecurity and IT services contract to LawSoft Inc., citing cyber-insurance controls and continuity with existing desktop support. The award passed on a roll-call vote after staff described vendor evaluation and risk-reduction benefits.
The Township of Clark on Monday approved a noncompetitive award of contract for information-technology cybersecurity managed services to LawSoft Inc., following a competitive contracting review that produced nine proposals. The council approved the award by roll-call vote after staff said LawSoft’s existing role as the township’s desktop-support vendor made it the best fit for expanded cybersecurity services.
Why it matters: Township officials said the chosen services include controls required by the municipality’s cyber insurer; those controls, officials said, will reduce the municipality’s cyber-insurance deductible and co-pay to zero if the measures are documented and maintained.
During the public comment period, John Greason, a Clark resident, asked whether the annual cost in the agenda was about $86,000 and whether the contract covers only municipal servers or also police and EMS systems. Jim Ulrich, the township business administrator, confirmed the contract covers municipal services and said the evaluation included input from the IT director. Ulrich described the selection process and the insurance rationale: "Some of the controls that we needed to put in place will now reduce our co pay and deductible to 0, when we get to it," he said.
Discussion vs. decision: Council members discussed the competitive process and insurance rationale (discussion). The council then adopted the resolution awarding the contract (formal action).
Contract terms and procurement: The administration said nine vendors responded, several exceeded budgetary range, and LawSoft was selected in part for continuity with current desktop support. The contract was described as critical to reducing cyber risk and meeting insurer controls; the administration said several desired controls required third-party expertise the township lacks in-house.
Next steps: Staff will finalize contract details and implement the cybersecurity program under LawSoft’s management. The township indicated those measures will be used to document insurance controls and lower potential future claim costs.
Ending: Residents who asked about scope were encouraged to contact the business administrator’s office for further technical details about system coverage and annual cost breakdowns.
