Primary Department: District Attorney
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sean Teare, District Attorney
Managing Department: District Attorney
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Sean Teare, District Attorney
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Intake & Discovery Cost Reduction Initiative
Project ID (if applicable): TBD
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): Dell & SHI
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $2,420,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $2,420,000
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for Intake & Discovery Cost Reduction Initiative project for a total authorization of $2,420,000.
end
Project Description:
This project entails the acquisition and deployment of three Dell PowerEdge enterprise-grade servers at the DAO’s (District Attorney’s Office) primary data infrastructure. The servers will be physically installed at the 406 Caroline Data Center, with supporting network integration extended to the Fibertown Data Center to ensure high availability and system redundancy.
In addition to expanding capacity, this project includes the renewal and replacement of aging data infrastructure that is approaching or has reached end-of-life status. The new servers and investigative equipment will replace legacy systems and hardware that no longer meet the performance, reliability, or security requirements of the DAO’s core operations, reducing the risk of service interruptions and unplanned outages.
The upgraded infrastructure is expected to enhance operational efficiency and system reliability across the DAO’s charge intake and digital discovery functions. Specifically, the expanded computing capacity will reduce the number of unprocessed or "unsent" charges, minimize data-related filing errors, and improve the speed and accuracy of digital evidence processing. These improvements will directly contribute to shorter detention durations at the Joint Processing Center, lowering both the overall jail population and related holding costs.
Additionally, modern printers will streamline document management workflows, supporting the high-volume printing needs of case processing and discovery. The inclusion of advanced investigative equipment, designed to integrate with virtual reality training software, will also support hands-on training and skill development for investigative personnel. The virtual reality training software allows the DAO to provide on-site training to all employees. Additionally, a drone and other miscellaneous tools will be used to assist DAO in its intake and discovery efforts. The project will develop systems and processes to monitor and evaluate the ongoing performance and value of these capitalized IT assets as well as increase the skill set of the investigators that are part of intake and discovery. These efforts will support long-term planning and ensure that the DAO continues to derive benefits from its technology investments.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
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Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Dell PowerEdge Servers |
$1,630,000 |
2025 |
|
SHI Large Printers |
$290,000 |
2025 |
|
Investigative Training Equipment: |
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Shoot, Don’t Shoot Training Simulator |
$100,000 |
2025 |
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Drone |
$20,000 |
2025 |
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LE Tools |
$120,000 |
2025 |
|
Supporting network & infrastructure hardware |
$40,000 |
2025 |
|
Contingency (10%) |
$220,000 |
2025 |
|
Total |
$2,420,000 |
- |
Justification & Alternatives:
The current DAO system often experiences severe backlogs due to processing delays, with each "unsent" charge doubling case intake time, adding approximately 10 extra hours per affected charge. The hardware is expected to eliminate these delays, significantly reducing future labor costs, processing time, and JPC overcrowding. Beyond charge filing, the new hardware enables development of a more efficient procurement of discovery materials through automation. Integration of the new training hardware and methods will help reduce discovery delays, which keep more people in pretrial detention and supervision, particularly for lower-level offenses where cases could otherwise be resolved quickly. The upgraded computer infrastructure will automate and accelerate this process. Quicker evidence exchange means faster case dispositions, which reduces jail stays and eases crowding across the county’s correctional system, as well as reducing indigent defense expenditures. It also minimizes the risk of costly inmate outsourcing, which is an ongoing concern in the coming years. Together, these improvements create a cascading impact, reducing jail population, enhancing labor output, and delivering fairer and faster justice for the people of Harris County, with expected cost reduction far exceeding capitalization expense.
Alternatives would involve continued processing delays, increasing jail occupancy, additional inmate outsourcing costs, and continually increasing staffing needs for intake and discovery compliance.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): E1: Modernize data and technology architecture across the legal system.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Previous Court Action:
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Address: 406 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77002
Precinct(s): Precinct 1
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Total Current Budget |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Commercial Paper |
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$2,420,000 |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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$2,420,000 |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$2,420,000 |
$2,420,000 |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
- |
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Anticipated Court Date:10/16/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Special Assistant County Attorney, 8/28/2025
Department Approval by: Gary Zallar, Director, Information Systems Technology, 8/28/2025
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 9/29/2025
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: District Attorney
Project PeopleSoft ID: DA26-002
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D-2 can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Intake & Discovery Cost Reduction Initiative project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
Note: Commercial Paper is issued in increments of $5,000 and the excess is not available to be spent by the department.
OMB Financial Management contact: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget