LegalXML MS Steering Committee

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  • 1.  Consultant evaluation

    Posted 09-03-2004 21:45
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    Subject: Consultant evaluation


    We received four responses to our request for proposals.  Tom Clarke and I have reviewed them and discussed the trade-offs.  The choice turns on political and interpersonal issues.  For that reason, Tom and I feel it necessary to involve the Steering Committee in the decision.

     

                The applicants, in alphabetical order, are: 

     

                Betty Harvey (she is president of her own company)

                Dr. Laurence Leff (Western Illinois University)

    Eric Tingom (eCorridor, a contractor who has done a great deal of integrated justice work with

            Maricopa County, Arizona, including XML and the GJXDM)

                Todd Vincent (xmlLegal)

     

                Tom and I rate Vincent and Leff at the top on technical and business skills and familiarity.  Betty Harvey lacks background in the justice arena.  Eric Tingom lacks experience in the OASIS/W3C world.  Tom and I both rank Vincent a bit higher than Leff on technical and business criteria.  However, both are clearly capable of performing the work.  I expect that both Harvey and Tingom could also perform very well.

     

                Leff’s is the least expensive proposal.  Vincent’s is the most expensive.  Leff offers to work for us for nine months for the cost of a graduate student -- $16,054 flat rate.  It is not clear exactly how much time he would make available but the proposal represents that he will meet our timetable for products.  Presumably the graduate student would give us all of his available time.  Vincent, on the other hand, would charge $200 per hour.

     

                Vincent has agreed in his proposal to donate all of his IP in 2GEFS and any other IP that would be involved in the Electronic Filing Blue specification and schema if we hire him.  After talking with Christopher Smith and Vincent recently, Tom believes that hiring Vincent is the only way that we will gain access to the 2GEFS materials.  However, it is not clear how important the 2GEFS materials are to Blue, if our emphasis is on GJXDM and open standards.  Both Vincent and Leff bring unusual personalities to the role.  Most of us have had dealings with both and can make our own personal assessment of that factor.  Vincent has some negative baggage with some important court leaders in Georgia and elsewhere.  That factor should be considered; I believe it could be overcome if we conclude that effecting a rapprochement with Vincent is sufficiently important for the Member Section, OASIS, and the court filing community.

     

                We have a Steering Committee conference call scheduled for next Wednesday – September 8th.  I ask that this issue be the principal topic on that agenda.  Please keep in mind that OASIS management has the final say on this.  OASIS will enter into the contract, not the Member Section.  We have the option of recommending that OASIS enter into requirements contracts with all four, with the idea that Harvey might work with Legislation, Tingom might work with the IJTC, and E-filing would decide whether to go with Vincent or Leff.  I do not recommend that course.  The issues are sufficiently important that the Steering Committee should decide which direction to take and advise OASIS management accordingly, understanding that they have the right to make the final decision.

     

                Let me know if any of you want to review any or all of the proposals.

     

    John M. Greacen

    Greacen Associates, LLC

    HCR 78, Box 23

    Regina, New Mexico 87046

    505-289-2164

    505-289-2163 (fax)

    505-780-1450 (cell)

     



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