Legislation Details

File #: 25-4960    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Financial Authorization Status: Passed
File created: 7/30/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 8/7/2025 Final action: 8/7/2025
Title: Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of a sole source exemption from the competitive bid requirements and that the County Judge execute an addendum to an agreement with Versaterm Public Safety US, Inc. f.k.a. JusticeTrax, Inc. in the amount of $371,449 for Forensic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS-Plus) software, warranty and maintenance for the Institute of Forensic Sciences through September 30, 2025 with four (4) one-year renewal options, and to provide for full compensation for services rendered from October 10, 2023 - October 9, 2024, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Sole Source.

Primary Department: Purchasing

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Paige McInnis

 

Secondary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis Arturo Sanchez, M.D.

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA

Type of Request: Financial Authorization

 

Project ID (if applicable): N/A

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Versaterm Public Safety US, Inc. f.k.a. JusticeTrax, Inc.

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  Exempt - Sole Source

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of a sole source exemption from the competitive bid requirements and that the County Judge execute an addendum to an agreement with Versaterm Public Safety US, Inc. f.k.a. JusticeTrax, Inc. in the amount of $371,449 for Forensic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS-Plus) software, warranty and maintenance for the Institute of Forensic Sciences through September 30, 2025 with four (4) one-year renewal options, and to provide for full compensation for services rendered from October 10, 2023 - October 9, 2024, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Sole Source.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

 Versaterm formerly known as JusticeTrax is the sole source for software, warranty, and/or maintenance for the JusticeTrax LIMS-Plus software and PathAssist software.

 

Expected Impact:

Internal HCIFS users are primarily impacted by JusticeTrax and PathAssist. External HCIFS stakeholders include 80 different submitting law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, private attorneys, hospitals, funeral homes, families, media, researchers, and the public.  These external stakeholders routinely rely on information provided by HCIFS.

 

 

Alternative Options:

N/A

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  1. Make Harris County safer and more just.

County Strategic Plan Objective: B: Reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):   Choose an item.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  Choose an item.

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.

Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any): N/A

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location:

Address (if applicable): 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX  77054

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

Software, Warranty and Maintenance for LIMS-Plus Software for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

1000 - General Fund

$

$371,449

$371,449

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$371,449

$371,449

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$

$371,449

$371,449

$

Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$

$

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: 8/7/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Cristina Juarez, Finance Manager, IFS; Gustavo Castillo, Buyer, Purchasing

 

Attachments (if applicable): Letter, Addendum