The category: Information technology solutions for $24 million.
The answer: This supercomputer featured on TV’s “Jeopardy!” could power the city’s 311 system for millions more than proposals by other bidders.
The question: What can IBM’s Watson do?
De Blasio administration officials looking to upgrade the computer system that handles 311 queries want to put Watson on the job.
IBM will team up with Microsoft to build out the new Watson-based system, which will replace the 15-year-old Oracle software that now helps 311 operators answer city residents’ queries and service complaints.
Watson will provide more user-friendly and practical responses to 311 questions than the existing system, its advocates say. The new system is also expected to do a better job understanding and responding to data.
Several people linked to other companies and city political insiders are grumbling about the $24 million deal, expected to be formally announced Monday by the city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications.
DynTek, an IT consulting firm, offered to upgrade the Oracle system at a cost of $5 million, said sources.
“When you have a proven 311 system that you could upgrade at a fraction of the cost, this seems like an award to friends of the mayor,” fumed one source.
City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office acknowledged that “questions have no doubt been raised” about the deal.
But “we did not find cause to reject it,” said Stringer spokesman Tyrone Stevens.
“As a result, we are required to register this contract,” Stevens said. “While we may not agree with every contract decision made by the city, we cannot and do not reject contracts without cause.”
A source with DoITT said the agency followed guidelines that Stringer laid out for the contract “to a T.”
“People should be skeptical of criticism sourced from any company whose product wasn’t good enough to win this bid,” said Natalie Grybauskas, a spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio.
IBM is represented in the deal by lobbyist James Capalino. He also represented Fortis Property Group, which hopes to develop the former Long Island College Hospital site in Brooklyn Heights.
Federal officials are investigating the Long Island College Hospital deal, and Capalino’s firm has been subpoenaed by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Through a spokesman, Capalino declined comment.
“The contract had nothing to do with him,” said IBM communications director Clint Roswell.
Roswell said his company is the only one that can deliver what the city wants at “a fraction of the cost of the original 311.”
In 2003, the city spent $25 million to get the original 311 system up and running.