INTRODUCTION:

This is not a tender or invitation to tender; this is a Request for Information (RFI). As part of the future strategy of
the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA*) the RFI will assist in developing and refining an Open
(Source and Data) approach to the Local Government of the future.

As part of the strategy, the LGMA and the wider Local Government are evaluating the potential, the viability and
the suitability of a strategic move to Open Source Software (OSS) platforms and solutions. This RFI is intended
to help us to establish the potential supply of software and services in a range of solution areas as documented
hereafter.

(*LGMA is a merger between the Local Government Computer Services Board and the Local Government
Management Services Board. LGMA will be used throughout this document, rather than LGCSB or LGMSB)

WHO CAN RESPOND?

LGMA is interested in the opinions of industry and academia with regard to development and implementation
of procedures, governance, planning, management, oversight and collaboration, as well as management of
and compliance with intellectual property and licensing, all with regard to development and implementation
of OSS solutions in the Local Government Sector.

BACKGROUND

The Local Government sector has, for the past number of years been in a tendered relationship with Microsoft
and part of a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA). The agreement was concluded in December 2009. In an
effort to continually improve and move the sector forward, LGMA has set up a division for the pursuance of
Open Data and Open Source solutions in the Local Government Sector. To date, almost all of the Local
Government infrastructure and business solutions are running on Microsoft based server and, while it is not
our intention to “rip and replace” existing working solutions, we have a number of potential requirements for
new solutions and are interested in more open applications.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF OSS WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR

LGMA recognises that while there has not been huge demand for OSS and Services from this sector in the past,
this RFI will, hopefully help us to establish the potential supply and thus enable the sector to increase the
demand. The LGMA has detailed a view of Open Source down into 5 key areas, outlined later, and are in the
process of developing Local Government communities around each of those areas. It is the intention of this RFI
to match potential interested parties on both sides of the community with the broad objective of community
exposure, learning, sharing, workshops and enough shared understanding of business objectives and processes
that will lead to tender and supply of software and services.
Open Source Code

In addition to our stated open source and open data objectives, we also wish, where practical, to make any
developed code as part of this and future Open Source exercises publicly available, under a suitably agreed
license model.

POTENTIALS FOR OPEN DATA AND OPEN SOURCE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR

LGMA sees a number of potentials in adopting and Open Source and Open Data Strategy

1) Innovation and integration of new capabilities and collaboration with the local open source community,

2) Agility and Open Standards from an adoption of loosely coupled architectures with a resultant improvement in
capabilities, quality, reliability, and robustness.

3) Broader proliferation of government data with the resultant improvement in quality and usability.

LGMA recognises the inherent challenges with changing its software strategy, in terms of learning curve,
management, Intellectual Property Rights, governance, and licensing. It is also important to note that as a result
of our most recent strategy, Local Government has had a largely stable, secure and robust technical environment
and wishes that this would remain, regardless of future technical platform.

INITIAL AREAS OF INTEREST WHERE OPEN SOURCE CAN BE BENEFICIAL

1. Desktop Office Automation Systems (Word Processor, Spread sheet, Email, Presentation Tool. etc)
2. Content Management Systems (Website design, Taxonomy Support, Data Catalogue, Social Media etc)
3. Document Management / Case Management / CRM Systems (Taxonomy, Linked Data, etc)
4. BackOffice Systems: (Database, Operating System, eMail, Proxy, Firewall, etc)
5. Geographic Information Systems (Data Catalogue, Inspire Compliance, Open Data, etc)

While this list is not exhaustive, it should give prospective clients a good feel for the range and type of software
and services that LGMA is interested in. There are obviously some underpinning software, support and services
to the above list that are crucial to all of the areas, LAMP support, Development Skills, Data Management, etc
that we ask responders to outline in their responses.
RESPONSE

LGMA requests interested parties to provide information in relation to the above areas:

1. Please select one or more areas (from the above section) that you / your company can support.

2. What role would you play in an Open Source Ecosystem? User, developer, maintainer, certifier, trainer,
operator, and/or distributor of Open Source.

3. What impacts, consequences, and challenges are there for government in your opinion in pursuing this
Open Source strategy?

4. Are there any intellectual property rights and or licensing issues that may be relevant to your
participation with LGMA in your preferred area of work?

5. Do you think that the 5 areas that LGMA are studying are suitable for an Open Source strategy, what
other topics, if any would you include?

INSTRUCTIONS

 Please answer the above questions, initially indicating which, if any of the LGMA’s selected
Technology areas that you / your company support.
 Please indicated if you / you company are interested in working with the LGMA in the future with
Open Data / Open Source Tools and Toolsets in the category areas outlined above.
 Please Indicate by means of relevant reference site, Examples/ Websites where appropriate / White
Paper, your / your company’s experience in the different technology solutions.
 If you have Case Studies with evidence of value for money.
 Please provide any case studies or examples of OSS use in high demand, high availability solutions
that you may have taken part in.
 Bearing in mind that this is not a tender and any provided costs would be indicative, please give
indicative costs for you / your company in providing support / services / solutions and indicative
support expectation and conditions.
 Please use the Electronic Drop-Box Feature of the eTenders site to upload your answers / solutions
and responses.
 Responses should be in PDF or ODF format.
 Queries re the RFI, but not responses, should be forwarded to opensourcerfi@lgma.ie
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Response Deadline is Friday 11 March at 5.00pm
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It is planned that workshops will be held in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland on 15 / 16 March,
please indicate your availability for such an event as part of your response.
 Details of workshops and answers to questions posed during the tender will be posted on
www.lgma.ie/opensource
FUTURE

The responses from the RFI will be used by LGMA and the wider Local Government Sector to estimate
the potential supply of Open Source in the Irish Market.
It is intended to hold workshops in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland with interested parties in each of
the 5 category areas and with Local Government bodies also committed to those areas.

LGMA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this RFI.