Country's largest software service firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today said it has partnered with Gfi Informatique to collaborate on smart cities projects in France.
Gfi Informatique and TCS will offer the Intelligent Urban Exchange (IUX) advanced analytics solution developed by TCS Digital Software & Solutions (DS&S) Group, the latter said in a statement.
The software leverages real-time and historical data to close the loop between citizen and city needs and the supply of services like transportation, water and energy.
Gfi will use IUX analytics software to support digital initiatives that enhance public services for citizens, make efficient use of resources and improve the environment in France.
The partnership will help the companies to tap the opportunity that is pegged to grow to USD 1.6 trillion by 2020.
"This partnership enables us to quickly add value to our digital technology offerings in the public sector, such as our City Hub mobile portal or our Public CRM, as well as to leverage data and applications to promote a coordinated, systematic roll-out and sustained growth of smart cities, bringing greater value to everyone involved," Gfi Chairman and CEO Vincent Rouaix said.
The county said that settlement amount was more than four
times the USD 6.4 million cost of the contract, and more than five times the amount the county actually paid to Tata.
In its legal complaint, the county alleged that "Tata fraudulently induced the county into selecting Tata to develop the property tax system and then presented false claims in the form of invoices and reports, provided false and unachievable milestone completion dates, and intentionally understaffed the project to maximise profit."
The county statement further alleged that "Tata took what was originally promised to be a two-year, USD 6.4 million contract and tried to stretch it into a six-year, USD 17 million project. The county intended to ask the jury to award punitive damages for fraud against Tata."
Had the litigation not settled, trial would have begun on August 2, 2016, it said.
The county sued Tata in 2013, claiming the software giant violated the California False Claims Act and allegedly engaged in "fraud, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment, as well as breach of contract".
The software programme was to interface on behalf of the Assessor, Treasurer-Tax Collector and AuditorController departments to generate annual tax bills for secured and unsecured property, including land, buildings, boats, aircraft and business equipment.
Tata filed a cross-complaint and also asked the court to dismiss the county's fraud claims.
The initial contract with TCS America was approved by the county in July 2008 for USD 7.97 million -- reduced to USD 6.4 million a year later -- with a promised delivery date of July 2010. In June 2010, supervisors extended the delivery date for a year and approved another USD 1.2 million, bringing the contract total to USD 7.6 million, the county statement claimed.
"In June 2011, after Tata officials attended a Board of Supervisors meeting and promised to fix several ongoing issues, the Board reluctantly approved another USD 2.7 million to bring the total cost of the contract to USD 10.3 million, with a new delivery date of July 2012," it said.
The county statement further said that in January 2013, when Tata requested a third extension (asking for additional two years to finish the system at an additional cost of $7 million), the county terminated the contract and the Board authorised the initiation of litigation against Tata.
"Before terminating its contract with Tata, the county had paid a total of USD 4,925,541 to the software vendor. To prepare for trial, the county spent approximately USD 10 million on legal fees, expert fees and related court costs," the county's statement claimed.
