Houston Extends HPD Records Software Contract

Houston is extending its legacy records management software contract for the Houston Police Department (HPD) as the city’s replacement system continues to slip past earlier go-live targets.

On Feb. 18, the Houston City Council approved an ordinance amending the city’s contract with CentralSquare Technologies LLC to provide an automated records management system. The ordinance sets a maximum contract amount of $1.7 million and extends the agreement through Nov. 10, with two additional three-month options, according to the City Council agenda.

City documents also show Houston’s replacement records management system has shifted from earlier go-live targets. In October 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Versaterm Public Safety Inc. for a records management system for the Houston Police Department, with the city describing the award as not to exceed $31.2 million.

In a Houston Information Technology Services briefing, the city’s “RMS Go-Live Forecast Schedule” shows an original go-live target of November 2024 and a revised target of May 2025, and notes work to resequence project activities that began with postponing an April 1 go-live.

Separately, city materials presented to the City Council Public Safety Committee tied the CentralSquare extension to operational sequencing and major-event planning. In the same briefing, Houston Information Technology Services staff described “World Cup & Go-Live Coordination,” stating the new records management system must go live either by March 31 or after Sept. 30 to accommodate the FIFA World Cup.

The city also said the Nov. 10 extension date would allow the department to complete World Cup support before starting records management system training, with the added options providing flexibility to extend support to May 2027 if required.