Primary Department: Universal Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director and CIO
Managing Department: Universal Services
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director and CIO
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Law Enforcement Mobile Device Terminal (MDT) Replacement
Project ID (if applicable): NI044
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
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: $9,620,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $19,240,000 (FY26-FY27)
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of the Final Investment Memo for the Law Enforcement Mobile Device Terminal (MDT) project, for an incremental authorization of $9,620,000 for a total authorization of $17,059,300.
end
Project Description:
Universal Services has identified more than 1400 Harris County Law Enforcement (HCLE) ruggedized laptops that are end-of-life (EOL). 90% of these ruggedized laptops are permanently installed in HCLE patrol vehicles. The other 10% are used in investigative or specialized divisions, which move the ruggedized laptops in and out of assigned County vehicles. These computers must be replaced to maintain current security standards and ensure deputies can continue to capture, receive, and transmit sensitive criminal justice information (CJI) in the field for operational accountability, officer safety, and efficiency/effectiveness.
A ruggedized laptop is built to operate reliably in dusty or wet environments and conditions. These computers have thicker and stronger housing than a regular laptop, and are engineered to be vibration, shock, drop, waterproof, and dust resistant. Additionally, they can comply with other essential requirements such as high performance and government-grade security.
Over the last two decades, law enforcement has become more reliant on data systems and technology for information capture, operational accountability, and officer safety. Most of this interaction occurs via ruggedized laptops in the field. Due to the harsh working environment, Harris County Law Enforcement (HCLE – Which includes the Sheriff's Office, Constable Precincts 1-8, and Fire Marshal’s Office) deploys ruggedized laptops to field units such as Patrol, Traffic, and K-9. These devices routinely capture, receive, and transmit sensitive criminal justice information and, therefore, must maintain current hardware and software security standards. These standards are maintained through security updates, often referred to as patches. As hardware ages, it is no longer able to accept the patches and must be retired. Universal Services has identified more than 1400 ruggedized laptops deployed within HCLE that are not upgradable or out of support. Through this project, Universal Services will procure, configure, and deliver new ruggedized or semi-rugged laptops to replace end-of-life devices.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
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Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
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Procurement of laptops and hardware
(1432 Ruggedized Laptops) |
$8,200,000 |
FY2026 Q2 |
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Contract Labor Resources (3) |
$400,000 |
FY2026 Q4 |
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Contract Labor - Deployment Technician (2-4) |
$200,000 |
FY2026 Q4 |
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10% Contingency |
$820,000 |
FY2026 Q4 |
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Total |
$9,620,000 |
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Justification & Alternatives:
When hardware is unable to accept updates, it becomes a security vulnerability to the Harris County enterprise network. In addition, processing Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) data on hardware that is outside the current security standards is a clear violation of State and Federal policy (CJIS). Without ruggedized laptops, Deputies will no longer be able to capture, receive, and transmit criminal justice information in the field. This will greatly degrade operational accountability, officer safety, and efficiency/effectiveness.
There are no real alternatives to replacement. As outlined above, these devices are necessary for usage in Law Enforcement. Without the new ruggedized laptops, there will be no way to connect securely to the Texas Department of Public Safety or the Harris County CAD & RMS environments. This would create an officer safety issue by not allowing deputies to have access to TCIC/NCIC returns. These returns consist of the following: Stolen Vehicles, Wanted Persons, Stolen Guns, and Criminal History. The bottom line, these ruggedized laptops will no longer be functional in HCLE vehicles if not replaced.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
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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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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6/6/2023 |
#127 |
Request for approval of the Final Investment Memo for the Law Enforcement Mobile Device Terminal (MDT) Replacement project for an initial authorization amount of $7,439,300 |
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8/29/2023 |
#34 |
Request for approval of commercial paper funding for Universal Services for the Law Enforcement Mobile Device Terminal (MDT) Replacement project in the amount of $3,115,000. |
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7/15/2024 |
#29 |
Request for approval of commercial paper funding for Universal Services for the Law Enforcement Mobile Device Terminal (MDT) Replacement project in the additional amount of $3,270,000 for a total CP funding of $6,385,000. |
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1/9/2025 |
#20 |
Request for approval of commercial paper funding for Universal Services for the Law Enforcement Mobile Device Terminal (MDT) Replacement project in the additional amount of $1,055,000 for a total CP funding of $7,440,000. |
Address: N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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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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Anticipated Court Date: 9/18/2025
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
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Special Assistant County Attorney, 9/3/2025
Department Approval by:
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director—Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 9/4/2025 ________________________________________
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: N/A
Project PeopleSoft ID: N/A
CP Series Description: N/A
OMB Financial Management contact: N/A