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fee, although Microsoft will not provide clients with free upgrades when they release a new <br />major piece of software. Accordingly, if the County upgrades to a new version of Microsoft <br />software in say, 2009, the County would have to buy it anew, presumably for a price <br />comparable to the current price tag of $37,000. <br />Given that Microsoft's historical pattern of releasing major upgrades has been longer than every <br />three years, and that Microsoft historically supports support older releases for a few years <br />longer, the County can easily save $44,000 a year by giving up Novell, with the understanding <br />that every three or four years, the County may want to upgrade to the latest Microsoft release. <br />Staff believe that the $21,000 quote from 4Front for their consulting and conversion services <br />represents a good value considering the scope of the work they will be performing for the <br />County <br />Staff estimate that the payback on this project overall is less than a year and a half starting with <br />fiscal year 2006-07.. In the private sector, that is a compelling justification on payback alone. <br />This is similar to the costs savings the Orange County Schools realized when they migrated <br />from Novell to Microsoft a couple years ago. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the <br />procurement of conversion services from 4-Front Systems, Inc, Raleigh, NC; procurement of <br />software licensing from Software House International; and authorize the Purchasing Director to <br />execute any paperwork necessary to effect the purchase.