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• 047 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No A./29 <br /> . <br /> Meeting Date: APRIL 1, 1985 <br /> SUBJECT: SALE OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE <br /> DEPARSEENT: DATA PROCESSING PUBLIC HEARING: __yes X No <br /> ATTACBMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: KEITH BROOKS <br /> X 477 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBER: <br /> NO Hillsborough - 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill - 968-4501 <br /> Mebane - 227-2031 <br /> Durham - 688-7331 <br /> PURPOSE: Orange County has been contacted by several counties regarding <br /> our computer systems developed for the Sheriff, Inspections and <br /> Health departments. In the past the County has made in-house <br /> developed computer software available to other counties at no <br /> cost. <br /> NEED: The County needs to adopt a policy guideline for dealing with <br /> software requests. The software can continue to be provided to <br /> other counties at no cost, or in trade for software which others <br /> may develop, or be sold. <br /> Apart from how the County deals with governmental request there <br /> should also be a guideline to cover sales to the private sector. <br /> IMPACT: Four to five sales are possible in the short range. Another <br /> five sales could follow depending on the pricing established per <br /> sale and by type software package. Finance has estimated the <br /> County cost could be recovered by a $1,000 to $2,500 charge per <br /> sale ($2,500 if few sales are involved, $1,000 if it's 10 or <br /> more sales). A problem involved is that the County is not <br /> equipped to do marketing. There is a cost associated in answer- <br /> ing inquiries and mounting any type of support to adapt and <br /> install the packages in another jurisdiction. Another problem <br /> in dealing with government is that software is now exchanged <br /> freely. If shift is made to a sales approach the cooperation on <br /> information sharing could diminish. Hence it is the Data <br /> Processing department's view that while sales and sales revenue <br /> is possible it would be in the County's interest to not depart <br /> from the practice of sharing the software with other governments <br /> upon request. This will, avoid having to pay for software which <br />