Isanti council counters proposed IT contract, approves one-month extension to avoid service interruption

Council considered a proposed three-year professional-services contract with Whitebear IT Solutions at a monthly flat rate of $2,250. Staff said Whitebear had provided weekday and weekly support, managed backups, security scans, criminal-justice information system (CJIS) interfaces and other critical services. One council member said he would have preferred more time to evaluate other vendors; staff warned that an abrupt service gap would jeopardize security and continuity.

Council debated the cost relative to prior rates and the staff time required to run an RFP. After discussion, council authorized a counteroffer to the vendor of $2,100 per month and separately approved a one-month interim agreement at the proposed $2,250 figure so there would be no break in service while negotiations continued or the city decided whether to run a new procurement. Council also requested assurances around CJIS access and vendor certifications; staff confirmed the vendor performs required CIS/CJIS training and background requirements to access criminal-justice systems for the police department.

Next steps: Staff will present the vendor’s formal response to the $2,100 counteroffer when available and either proceed with a negotiated contract or, if the vendor declines, pursue an RFP. The one-month interim agreement was authorized to take effect immediately to maintain uninterrupted IT and security services.