Texas
| Submitted | April 15, 2024 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Colin MacArthur
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Documents related to the selection and procurement of the [court’s] case management, docketing and electronic filing systems.
In specific:
- Contracts with the current vendor(s), including the currently active contracts and any previous contracts with the same vendor
- The request(s) for proposals to which the current vendor(s) responded
- Responses from other vendors to the same request for proposals
- Documents evaluating the proposals, or justifying the decision
- If there was no RFP for a vendor, any documents justifying the arrangement
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Colin MacArthur
From: Office Of Court Administration
Dear Mr. McArthur:
The Office of Court Administration (hereafter "the Office") is in receipt of your request for records under the Texas Public Information Act, which we are construing as a request for judicial records under Rule 12<https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1456650/texas-rules-of-judicial-administration.pdf> of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. A copy of your request, which was received by the Office on April 24, 204, is attached for reference.
Your request seeks copies of records of the procurement and selection "of the [court's] case management, docketing, and electronic filing systems" and specifically requests a copy of the current and the previous contract with the current vendor, the request for proposals issued in procuring the vendor's services, responses from other vendors, and documents evaluating the proposals or justifying the decision. The Office is currently under contract to provide an electronic filing system ("e-File 2.0") for use in the courts throughout Texas. Your reference to the term "the court's" case management, docketing, and electronic filing systems implies a statewide system maintained by the Supreme Court of Texas. We are construing your request to refer to the e-File system. Many, though not all, of the local courts maintain their own case management systems which were procured at the county level. The Office is not the custodian of the records of the procurement or contracts of those local case management systems. To access records of local case management systems, you must file a public information request to the clerks of the district or county courts.
Please note that the Office did procure the services of approximately three contractors on a separate project to develop a case management system for small or rural counties which would not otherwise procure an automated case management system. However, the Office procured contractors to be available to contract with the counties. Since the Office's contracts were not for statewide (or local) case management, docketing, or electronic filing services but were for contractors to be made available to contract with counties to obtain their own case management systems (if they chose to do so), this project did not seem to fit within the scope of your request. Please let me know if this is not correct and you wish to have copies of records relating to the procurement and contracting on that project.
You may find a copy of the current contract for e-File system at this webpage: https://www.txcourts.gov/jcit/electronic-filing/.
A copy of the request for offer issued to procure the current contract is available here: https://www.txsmartbuy.com/esbd/212210180.
A copy of the original contract and six amendments is attached to this email.
A copy of the memo documenting the recommendation of the selected the vendor and the rationale for the recommendation is also attached.
It will take more time to review the other responses to the Office's request for offers. I will provide copies of those records to you within a reasonable time but not later than 14 days in accordance with Rule 12.6. I am sending the attached copies of records separately in the interest of responding promptly.
Regards,
Scott Gibson
Assistant General Counsel
Texas Office of Court Administration
512.463.1461
From: Office Of Court Administration
Dear Mr. MacArthur:
As a follow up to my disclosure of judicial records on Friday, April 26, 2024, please find attached eight documents responsive to your request in accordance with Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. The attached documents are responses to the solicitation 212200385 for an electronic filing system. Tyler Technologies specified information in its response, including a cost workbook which specified its proposed fees for proposed goods and services in its response, as confidential and proprietary. That information was redacted from its response. The redacted information and the Tyler cost workbook are withheld under Rule 12.5(i)(3) which exempts from required disclosure "a trade secret or commercial or financial information made privileged or confidential by statute or judicial decision."
Under Rule 12.9, you have the right to appeal the denial of access to judicial records. You may appeal by filing a written petition for review with the Administrative Director of the Office of Court Administration at the following address:
Ms. Megan LaVoie, Administrative Director
Office of Court Administration
P.O. Box 12066
Austin, Texas 78711-2066
Please note that the petition for review must be filed no later than 30 days after you receive this notice of the denial of copies of requested copies. If you wish to file a petition, please note the requirements regarding the contents of the petition and the appellate process in Rule 12<https://www.txcourts.gov/media/524153/rjac-rule-12.pdf>.
There are no further records responsive to your request.
Please contact me if you have difficulties accessing the attachments.
Sincerely,
Scott Gibson
Assistant General Counsel
Texas Office of Court Administration
(512)463-1461
-
4_0 ESBD_File_192682_Attachment C - Requirements Response Workbook FINAL 4-13-20
Files
pages
-
04/29/2024
4_0 ESBD_File_192682_Attachment C - Requirements Response Workbook FINAL 4-13-20