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: DAO Technology Advancement Initiative
Project ID (if applicable): DA25-001
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: $2,539,200
Total Estimated Project Cost: $2,839,200
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the DAO Technology Advancement Initiative project in an incremental amount of $2,539,200 for a total authorization of $2,839,200, and request for approval of commercial paper funding in the amount of $2,540,000 for a total allocation of $2,840,000.
end
Project Description:
This project will focus on the acquisition and implementation of previously identified IT equipment eligible for capitalization. The focus will be on the replacement of storage systems that have reached the end of support [EOS]. Key activities will include installation of 2 storage arrays - one at 406 Caroline data center, and the other at the Fibertown data center.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Previously Approved - |
|
|
|
Additional network switches in 406 Caroline |
$30,000 |
2025 |
|
Additional cluster nodes for 406 & Fibertown [Disaster Recovery] |
$240,000 |
2025 |
|
Replacement domain controllers for 406 & Fibertown [Disaster Recovery] |
$30,000 |
2025 |
|
Previously Approved Total |
$300,000 |
|
|
Current Request - |
|
|
|
Storage system replacement - hardware |
$2,016,000 |
Dec-26 |
|
Badge readers (20) |
$100,000 |
Dec-26 |
|
Contingency |
$423,200 |
Dec-26 |
|
Current Request Total |
$2,539,200 |
|
|
Grand Total |
$2,839,200 |
|
Justification & Alternatives:
The shift toward high-performance computing and seamless data accessibility requires a robust storage architecture that not only supports our current operational demands but also scales with our evolving data footprint. This project is a critical prerequisite for maintaining business continuity and system availability. Upgrading to the iXsystems TrueNAS M50 storage array ensures our data infrastructure is high-performing, resilient, and fully aligned with our long-term technical roadmap.
Key Drivers for Replacement
• End of Support (EOS): Our current storage array has reached the end of its manufacturer support lifecycle. Operating on "End of Support" hardware introduces significant security vulnerabilities and leaves the organization without technical recourse in the event of a critical hardware failure.
• Capacity Constraints: The existing system is nearing its maximum storage threshold. Without this upgrade, we face imminent data "lock-out" scenarios, preventing the ingestion of new data and stalling project workflows.
• Performance & Reliability: The M50 provides enterprise-grade redundancy and significantly higher throughput, ensuring that our data-driven decision-making processes are not hindered by legacy hardware bottlenecks.
Analysis of Alternatives
The alternative to this acquisition would be to continue operating on the legacy system. This path presents a high-risk profile:
1. Increased OpEx: Maintaining unsupported hardware often results in higher emergency repair costs and inefficient resource allocation.
2. Risk of Catastrophic Loss: A failure on an unsupported, over-capacity system would lead to extended downtime, as replacement parts and vendor expertise are no longer guaranteed.
3. Capitalization Benefits: By capitalizing this asset, we can spread the investment cost over its useful life [6 years], rather than incurring the immediate financial strain of emergency equipment replacement or the lost productivity associated with system outages.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
|
Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
|
|
|
$- |
|
- |
|
|
|
$- |
|
- |
|
Total |
|
$- |
|
- |
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: R: Enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency.
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:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
2/6/2025 |
136 |
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the District Attorney’s Office Technology Advancement Initiative project for an initial amount of $300,000, and request for approval of initial commercial paper funding in the amount of $300,000. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Address: 406 Caroline and Fibertown Data Center
Precinct(s): Precinct 1
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request |
|
|
Commercial Paper |
$ |
$2,540,000 |
$2,540,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$2,540,000 |
$2,540,000 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$2,540,000 |
$2,540,000 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 3/19/2026
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, First Assistant County Attorney-Legal Operations, 3/8/2026
Department Approval by: Rurik Wilmot, Infrastructure & Application Systems Manager, 02102026
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 3/9/2026
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: District Attorney
Project PeopleSoft ID: DA25-001
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 DAO Technology Advancement 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 any excess is not available for departmental spending.
OMB Financial Management contact: Fahad Gulzar, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget