Introduction to the Request for Information (RFI) Process
In 2018, the City of Taylor Michigan completed a comprehensive assessment of business applications and
processes to modernize the City's ERP application environment. The assessment recommended the City
replace its core financial accounting, human resources, payroll, community development, utility billing,
inspections, cashiering, and licensing systems. Later the same year, the City solicited for a replacement ERP
and implemented Oracle's Fusion Cloud to satisfy its core financial accounting business needs and
determined it wanted to further evaluate alternative solutions to satisfy its non-accounting functions.
The City issued this Request for Information (RFI) to assess available solutions that are currently
represented in its non-integrated legacy systems including its legacy New World AS400 systems supporting
permitting, inspections, business licensing, animal licensing, utility billing, cash receipting, and property
tax receipting. Working in conjunction with Plante Moran, an independent consulting advisor, the City
designed this RFI process solicit vendor proposals to educate and increase staff understanding of the
capabilities of today’s modern ERP solutions. The RFI will also feature improvements to City process and
services to streamline the organization’s business practices and optimize citizen service delivery. The City’s
future ERP system may involve a single or multiple vendor solution(s) to satisfy its business needs. It has
identified legacy components to replace and is exploring options to fully integrate and/or replace the City’s
Oracle Fusion Cloud solution implemented in 2021.
The RFI is the first part of a two-step procurement designed to educate and improve the City’s
understanding ofsolutions and integration service options. Qualified providers and system integrators are
invited to respond with approaches to satisfy the City’s ERP objectives. The City will use the vendor
responses to the RFI to establish its solution priorities, system integration options, and evaluation criteria
for a subsequent Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to be released in Q1 of 2024. The RFI is not intended to
result in a contract for the products and services described herein. In the event a vendor does not respond
to the RFI, it does not preclude a vendor from participating in an RFQ or any other solicitation process.
The City will be extending invitations to one or more vendors electing to respond to this RFI to conduct a
solution demonstration featuring their key system capabilities. The demonstrations are expected to
increase staff awareness of the potential for enterprise solutions to address the unique business needs from
each service area. The following principles are intended to guide the City’s approach as part of this process.
• Provide one shared view of the public’s data and information and provide a single source of the truth.
• Eliminate multiple “shadow” systems managing the same information.
• Significantly reduce process and cycle times through business process reengineering using proven
automation linked to successful practices adopted by peer agencies.
• Eliminate paper-based processes and forms in favor of electronic workflows designed to provide 24/7
online access.
• Ensure quality is moved to the front of the transaction to eliminate the extensive after-the-fact error checking.
- Recognize that information is an asset that can and should be used to improve transparency anddecision support information.• Provide relevant, timely, and consistent information to support the needs of public officials andcommunicate responsively with citizen stakeholders.
communicate responsively with citizen stakeholders.
