Subject:
Intergovernmental Service Agreement with the City of Clearwater (City) for Information Technology Services from Business Technology Services.
Recommended Action:
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the amended Intergovernmental Services Agreement with the City of Clearwater for Information Technology (IT) services from Business Technology Services (BTS).
• Amendment extends the term for five (5) years with an option for extension.
• This agreement specifically provides Geographic Information Systems (GIS) infrastructure and hosting support to the City of Clearwater under a custom service level agreement (SLA).
• The cost for these services will be fully recovered and directly billed to Clearwater on an annual basis.
• This agreement will help the City of Clearwater cost avoid significant long-term capital investment required for enterprise GIS support services and leverage the existing investments of Pinellas County/BTS.
• The BTS Chief Information Officer, or their designee, shall approve annual renewals over a five-year term. These renewals may include updates to the scope of services and associated fees, as necessary, to align County costs with BTS’s performance under this agreement.
• This Agreement will result in an annual revenue stream of $82,439.36 into the BTS fund which offsets the costs of providing IT services to the City. The funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Adopted budget.
Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach.
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support.
5.4 Strive to exceed customer expectations.
Summary:
The City of Clearwater has determined that continued outsourcing of business technology services used to support its services and programs is the most effective approach for critical business needs; and BTS has the capacity to provide those business technology services to the City as defined in this agreement on a more cost-efficient basis for the benefit of Pinellas County citizens. Agreement creates the foundation for a regional approach to GIS services and will improve data and cost sharing across county and municipal departments. Revenue funding is budgeted in FY26 in the Business Technology Services Fund. Pinellas County will neither make nor lose money from this agreement.
Background/Explanation:
On March 20, 2025, the County Administrator executed the initial agreement 25-0201D for an Intergovernmental Services Agreement with the City of Clearwater for Information Technology (IT) services from Business Technology Services (BTS). The City of Clearwater has determined that outsourcing the business technology services used to support its services and programs is the most effective approach for critical business needs; and BTS has the capacity to provide those business technology services to the City as defined in this agreement on a more cost-efficient basis for the benefit of Pinellas County citizens. All Services provided by BTS will be provided in accordance with the standards, policies, and best practices in effect during the term, as amended from time-to-time by BTS and reflected in the BTS Global Service Level Agreement hereinafter described in Exhibit D attached hereto. The CITY shall replace ("Technology Refresh") its hardware and software as required by BTS in performing the Business Technology Services to comply with its standards, policies, and best practices.
Fiscal Impact:
This Agreement will result in an annual revenue stream of $82,439.36 into the BTS fund which offsets the costs of providing IT services to the City
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62(a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeff Rohrs, Interim CIO, Business Technology Services
Bryan Zumwalt, Chief Technology Officer, Business Technology Services
Partners:
Jennifer Poirrier, City Manager, City of Clearwater
Dan Mayer, IT Director, City of Clearwater
Attachments:
Intergovernmental Services Agreement