A Cisco spokesperson told ComputerWire the company is engaged in a general review of the way it works with public sector entities, looking into procedures and policies.
The review follows the conclusion of an investigation by Cisco into the contract for new major voice and data network serving 1,800 employees at the City of San Jose in its prestigious soon-to-be-completed city hall.
San Jose’s own investigation into the contract led to the resignation of the city’s Chief Information Officer Wanda Grycz in August, after significant and pervasive participation by Cisco in the project’s bid process was reported.
At the heart of the case was the city’s decision to standardize on a Cisco voice and data network without conducting any formal cost-benefit analysis. All the contractors – Unisys, SBC and Norstan – which bid on the project exclusively offered Cisco equipment.
Cisco, whose San Jose corporate campus is home to 13,000 employees, has consistently denied any untoward involvement in drawing up the city’s Request For Process (RFP).
The Cisco spokesperson said that following an extensive, month-long investigation, it concluded San Jose had told Cisco employees that the city wanted to standardize on Cisco’s equipment. That’s the critical thing, she said. It was unclear, though, whether the individual, or individuals, involved are still working in Cisco’s public sector practice.
Grycz resigned from her post having previously denied Cisco’s involvement in developing the RFP. The city’s investigation, though, concluded otherwise, stating back in August: In our opinion, the CIO’s representation to the city council is clearly at variance with the documented record.
Cisco’s spokesperson said it was uncertain how long the company’s internal review would last, adding the issues involved were unique to the public sector.
