Commission approves $262,416 seasonal call-center contract for e-filing support with ROICX

The Florida Commission on Ethics authorized staff to execute a contract with vendor ROICX to provide a seasonal electronic-filing call center for the commission’s financial disclosure system.

Commission staff presented a memorandum describing a competitive RFP process run with the Office of Legislative Services purchasing office and technical evaluators from commission staff. Staff said ROICX received the highest overall score (a top technical score and the lowest cost) under the RFP scoring rules. The proposed cost for the contract is $262,416; staff said this is substantially lower than the prior year’s call-center expenditure and reflects a shorter season and a lower hourly rate and waived fees by the vendor.

"We require a company that can provide excellent customer service, phone support with the ability to scale up and scale down quickly," staff said, noting that last year’s disclosure season had significant call volume and that the commission anticipated a similar but better-informed demand this year. Commissioners asked whether the lower cost derived from shorter duration or a lower hourly rate; staff confirmed both factors contributed.

Commissioners also discussed logistics of the seasonal call center: staff indicated the period will cover the peak disclosure months (roughly May through August) and that funds would come from the commission’s carry-forward dollars. A motion to approve the spending authorization and execute the contract with ROICX was moved, seconded and passed by the commission with no recorded opposition.

Ending

Staff said the contract will be finalized through negotiations and that the e-filing call-center service is expected to operate during the upcoming disclosure season to assist filers with the electronic Form 1 and Form 6 processes.