Iowa disputes $1.6M in charges from software vendor

Tension has been building between the department and Minnesota-based TIES (Technology and Information Educational Services) agency officials as they scrambled to restore confidence in the agency's software system that made Iowa extend its fall testing window, according to department emails reviewed by the Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/2h6EgQ7 ).

The department also is challenging $150,000 for moving reports to an older platform the system had previously used.

"Since TIES has chosen to change platforms three times in three years — and we are back to the first display platform we used three years ago — we do not believe this is a cost the department should incur," the invoice said.