Arapahoe County staff seek waiver to adopt Granicus website platform

Arapahoe County staff on Wednesday asked the Board of County Commissioners for permission to move forward with a waiver to procure a new content‑management system from Granicus.

Director Sabino told the board that Granicus was evaluated in a prior RFP and is already used elsewhere in county technology. "It has not met our needs and it has not, performed the way that that was told or sold to us," Sabino said of the current vendor, and described Granicus as a larger, proven government‑focused provider with broader integration and support.

Procurement staff and purchasing representatives said Granicus had scored highly in the earlier solicitation and that negotiations produced favorable terms. Staff emphasized they could use the county’s previously approved 2022 terms and conditions rather than pay a cooperative vendor’s fees. "We are likely to be, sort of, a flagship account for them," a purchasing representative said, describing improved pricing and service leverage after negotiations.

Commissioners asked about the prior contractor, and staff identified the incumbent CMS as "Revise," described as a small firm whose service ultimately did not meet county needs. Procurement staff said the county received 24 submissions during the original solicitation and that the Granicus proposal was a close second at the time.

There was no formal vote today; staff said the packet will be prepared for signature and that the agency with signature authority will sign the waiver so it will not need to go on a future consent agenda. At the study‑session, the chair reported an informal "five thumbs up" as expressions of support from commissioners.

Next steps: procurement will finalize the waiver documentation and route it for signature; staff said they will circulate the formal waiver for the commissioner who has signature authority to execute.