Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis Arturo Sanchez
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Renewal
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 for approval of a sole source exemption from the competitive bid requirements and a renewal option 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 for the period of October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Sole Source.
end
Background and Discussion:
The HCIFS is requesting to proceed with the first of four renewal options for the forensic laboratory information management system (LIMS-Plus).
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):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
8/7/25 |
498 |
Award |
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. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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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 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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
Contact(s) name, title, department: Cristina Juarez, Finance Manager, IFS; Gustavo Castillo, Buyer, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter