Summary of Specifications:
I. Purpose of Proposal:
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified vendors to acquire an off-the-shelf, web-based, configurable mapping application, capable of connecting to both spatial and non-spatial data that meets the geospatial visualization needs of Washtenaw County and the City of Ann Arbor in a jointly-hosted solution. The County intends to use the results of this process to purchase a mapping application that will be hosted at the Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County data center.
II. Project Background
The role of Washtenaw County’s GIS Program is to provide geographic data and solutions to various County departments and Local Units of Government (LUGs). The GIS Program consists of a core team of individuals situated in the County’s Information Technology (IT) Department.
Washtenaw County currently operates and maintains multiple ArcIMS-based websites, both for internal and external use. The main function of the external website is to allow public lookup and mapping of parcels, roads, jurisdictions, and other public information. The internal sites serve the needs of internal County departments as well as the County’s Cities, Villages, and Townships (CVTs), by allowing functions like buffering features, creation of mailing labels, and custom query and display of sensitive data layers.
In 2008, Washtenaw County and the City of Ann Arbor entered into a strategic partnership and combined data centers. The shared data center is managed jointly by City and County staff. Staff from the City and County have identified strategic partnership areas for collaboration and consolidation. GIS and web mapping applications and services is one of the key strategic areas identified for consolidation.
The county’s current ArcIMS websites receive a combined average of 350 visits per day. The applications to be developed with the application outlined by this RFP are anticipated to increase usage significantly.
