Technology Services recommends utilizing professional services via cooperative purchasing program contracts (e.g., Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)) for professional services to address application, infrastructure, and security support and implementation activities.

Over this past year, staff augmentation contracts have been successful for the Technology Services Department, enabling the City to respond to critical technology support needs. This staff augmentation contract doesn’t specify one agency but provides flexibility through the cooperative purchasing programs to additional staffing support and placement companies specializing in technology professionals. Therefore, Technology Services will channel requests through cooperative contracts that function as the consolidation point for a pool of vendors to meet our specific skills on an as-needed basis.

Additionally, with staff augmentation, the City can evaluate the skills and abilities of highly qualified technologists through a contractual staffing approach. Lastly, if a contracted employee is not performing in accordance with desired proficiency, the contractor will provide resource options for the City to select a replacement. 

Examples of staff augment activities projected include, but are not limited to:

• Provide services to support critical operational activities for security, such as Multi-Factor Authentication, security configuration, analysis and documentation.

• Scenarios to supplement critical technology areas where resource(s) lack capacity or capability, the City requires a highly skilled resource(s) for short-term engagements and mitigating staff attrition with professional services.

• Process improvement, automation, and modernization to improve the technology level of service and IT Service Management capability supporting technology ticket requests including:
  • Technical issues focused on development and operations in support of hardware, software, and customer support activities.
  • Service Desk support during the upcoming Computer Refresh project.

• Technology projects requiring skilled resources for analysis, development, integration, implementation, and post-implementation. Currently, the Technology Services team is engaged in over 50 ongoing projects. Based on the current staff capacity and capabilities, staff augmentation is required for the following:
  • Masterworks Construction Management System (CMS) requires highly skilled resource(s) for system integrations across the City’s platforms, such as the financial system JD Edwards (ERP). Examples of resource types are an Integration Engineer, Business Analyst, and Software Developer.
  • The City’s website plano.gov has completed phase I of migration to the new platform, CivicPlus. Phase II will identify opportunities to improve security, citizen experience, and performance quality. Examples of resources are Web Analyst and Business Analyst.

If the City of Plano does not approve this request for professional services, the Technology Services department will be unable to provide adequate security, implementation services, and support across critical technologies for the City.

The City is authorized to purchase from the State Contract list pursuant to Chapter 271 Subchapter D and Federal Contract list pursuant to Chapter 271 Subchapter G of the Texas Local Government Code and by doing so satisfies any State Law requiring local governments to seek competitive bids for items. (City of Plano Internal Contract No. 2022-0250-O)

Funding for this item is available in the 2021-22 Technology Services Budget.  This request is to approve the purchase of staff augmentation services for Technology Services through existing Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contracts, in the estimated total amount of $800,000. 

Approval of this item supports the City's Strategic Plan Critical Success Factors of Excellent, Innovative, and Accountable City Government.