Over the next few weeks, Methuen officials will be reviewing bids from private information technology companies vying for a contract to take over maintenance of the city's information technnology services. Mayor Stephen Zanni has been advocating for the privatization for some time; last year, an outside review commissioned to study the department found that such a move could save the city about $200,000. In preparing the bid, city officials were clear that the contract would be for maintaining department IT services only, not for purchasing equipment. If the plan ultimately proves successful as a cost-saving measure, Mayor Zanni has said he may consider a similar option to privatize the management of school department IT services.