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Committee approves Unisolutions contract for citywide cashiering services
Summary
Evanston’s Administration & Public Works Committee voted 5–0 to award a three‑year contract for citywide cashiering services to Unisolutions, following staff testimony that the vendor offers better integration and a lower credit‑card fee despite a higher annual cost than the top-ranked proposer.
The Administration & Public Works Committee approved a three‑year contract award to Unisolutions for citywide cashiering and payment services, voting 5–0 to pass Resolution 56 R-25 to the City Council.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer Clayton Black told the committee the procurement followed a competitive RFP process that included proposals, scoring and demonstrations. He said the top‑scoring proposer had a lower annual cost but, after demonstrations and interviews, lacked key integration experience with the city’s existing systems. Black said Unisolutions (referred to in the meeting as “Uno”/“Unisolutions”) demonstrated better integration with the city’s parking, citation and water‑billing systems and offered a lower credit‑card fee, which will be passed along to customers. The negotiated credit‑card fee is locked for three years.
Council Member Davis, who pulled the item for discussion, asked why the city selected a higher‑cost vendor over the top‑ranked, lower‑cost proposal. Black replied that Unisolutions’ demonstrated integrations (including a payment kiosk deployed at Robert Crown) and experience working locally made it the better fit despite higher annual costs; staff emphasis was on product fit and lower ongoing fees to residents.
Black said the city has worked with Unisolutions on a Robert Crown payment kiosk for about 18 months and that the proposed contract locks the card‑processing rate for three years. He also noted that the company’s lower card fee would reduce the cost passed to customers compared with other options.
The committee motion to approve the contract was moved by Council Member Newsom and seconded by Council Member Harris. With no additional amendments, the item passed unanimously and will move to the City Council for final approval.
Sources: testimony of Clayton Black, deputy chief financial officer, and committee discussion during the Administration & Public Works Committee meeting.
