Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Research Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prosecutor secures discounted Westlaw renewal; county authorizes contract signature
Summary
Bonner County commissioners approved Prosecuting Attorney Bill Wilson's negotiated renewal with Westlaw that includes a $500 monthly teaser rate for the remainder of the year and a higher monthly rate thereafter; county chair authorized to sign administratively.
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners on June 10 approved a negotiated renewal of the county prosecutor’s Westlaw legal research subscription after a staff solicitation of competing quotes.
Prosecuting Attorney Bill Wilson told the board he solicited a competing price from LexisNexis and used that quote to negotiate with Westlaw. Wilson said Westlaw offered a reduced "teaser" rate of $500 per month for the remainder of the calendar year, with the monthly rate increasing thereafter (Wilson described the subsequent monthly rate as roughly $2,600). He told the board the negotiated terms would save the office roughly $25,000 this calendar year and about $19,000 per year thereafter compared with the office’s original higher quote.
Wilson said Westlaw provides value the office prefers, including alignment with court subscriptions, and that the negotiated renewal balances cost savings with product continuity. A member of the public asked for clarification about the $500 and the subsequent monthly rate; Wilson confirmed the figures on the record.
A commissioner characterized the decision as value‑based, noting the benefits of using the same research tool as the court. The board voted to approve the renewal and authorized the chair to sign the contract administratively.
