Working well with a vendor requires a well-structured contract, trust, and ongoing relationship management. It requires the local government to be a critical and informed customer. It starts with understanding the transaction. You are in the business of serving your citizens. Vendors are in the business of selling information, equipment, and services. These can be compatible, but they are not the same. When developing a contract with a vendor, make sure that you remain in control of the focus, size, and cost of the project and build in penalties for failures to meet specified requirements. Remember to account for and incorporate training and maintenance needs. Ask the vendor for a custom demo using data and processes from your locality so you can see how it will work under the unique conditions of your environment. Doing these things at the start provides an agreed-upon structure for managing an ongoing successful relationship.