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, Technology Services has established staff augmentation contracts that have been successful for the Technology Services Department, enabling the City to respond to critical technology project implementations and operational support needs. This request to use staff augmentation services does not specify one agency but provides flexibility through purchasing programs to leverage additional staffing support and utilize 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 security systems configuration, analysis and documentation.
- Following an internal review of our technology products and services, we will establish and leverage a small team of technical experts via staff augmentation services to plan and mitigate legacy systems and infrastructure.
- 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 Masterworks Construction Management System (CMS) which 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.
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. 2022-0629-O)