[OSGeo Africa] Tshwane illegally requesting tender for ESRI software

[Adi Eyal]

On a somewhat related topic - I am currently working on a personal
project to make an economic case for moving government to FOSS
platforms. Previous arguments generally focused on cost savings. My
argument is that billions of rands are spent annually on proprietary
software (my thumbsuck is around R50 billion). Arguments against open
source are either 1. it sucks or 2. there is no support. My approach
would be to avoid the cost savings argument and suggest that we
redirect that R50 billion away from international suppliers towards
our own local software development industry to 1. tailor software to
departments' needs and 2. provide paid support. Of course the usual
benefits for FOSS still apply such as an open code-base allowing
software re-use across government.

I have been systematically sending PAIA requests to each government
department requesting their inventory of software licenses along with
their annual costs. Using this data, I hope to build up a profile of
software usage in each department and find alternative FOSS software.
This is an extremely slow process (and not cheap) but hopefully
worthwhile.

Coming back to our discussion - ESRI features in quite a few of the
departments who have already submitted their inventories.

Adi

On 4 June 2013 16:57, Peter Newmarch <newmarch at land-surveyors.com> wrote:
> It may be impractical, but that's besides the point. The practicality of
> continuing the system or training should be part of the tender process. Long
> term it may be cheaper to scrap the current system entirely. This is
> precisely why tenders should never be product specific and only outcome
> based.
>
> In fact I would argue differently and say the constant changing of equipment
> and software may in fact be in the municipalities interest as it builds a
> more knowledgeable workforce. By sticking to one particular product or type
> of training one may in fact be limiting skills transfer and knowledge.
>
> Peter
>
>
> On 2013/06/04 04:16 PM, Adi Eyal wrote:
>
> I agree with Vutomi - the cost of re-training staff and changing
> systems every time they need to procure new software is impractical.
>
> Adi
>
> On 4 June 2013 13:57, Vutomi Mdlhovu <vutomim at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Gavin,
>
> Having gone through the tender, I don't think the metro is at fault at all.
> If you look clearly at the scope of work as well as the pricing schedule
> page, it clearly tells that they looking for a service provider that can
> assist them with the maintenance of the existing infrastructure as well as
> increasing their current license capability. The question that should be
> asked is whether ESRI-SA is the sole provider of the service that they are
> requiring and the answer is no. Their business partners can offer the
> service as well thus the need to go on tender.
>
> I maybe wrong
>
> Regards
> Rae
>
>
>
>
> On 4 June 2013 12:34, Gavin Fleming <gavin at afrispatial.co.za> wrote:
>
> Hi All
>
> See details of tender CB111/2013 in this doc:
>
> http://www.tshwane.gov.za/Business/Lists/Tenders/Attachments/473/CB111%202013.pdf
>
> According to the Govt FOSS policy, Govt entities may not request tenders
> for specific software. They have to request tenders for a solution, thus
> allowing diverse suppliers to tender and in this way giving the opportunity
> for FOSS suppliers to tender. In due course FOSS will become obligatory but
> for the time being tenders have to be open while the FOSS supplier base
> builds up.
>
> What's the point of this being a public tender if there is only one
> supplier?
>
> I invite you to object or join me in objecting as well as in submitting
> alternative bids consisting of FOSS solutions.
>
> --
> regards
>
> Gavin
>
> Gavin Fleming
> http://afrispatial.co.za
> t: 0218620670
> c: 0845965680
> f: 0866164820
>
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-- 
Adi Eyal
Data Specialist
phone: +27 78 014 2469
skype: adieyalcas
linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal