Waco Approves $4.2M in Technology Agreements

The Waco City Council approved about $4.2 million in technology agreements Sept. 15, including enterprise software, human resources technology, police records management and new thermal-imaging equipment for the Fire Department.

The approvals were part of the council’s consent agenda, which passed during the business session with all four members present voting in favor.

The largest agreement is a three-year Microsoft enterprise agreement with Dell Marketing valued at about $3 million. The council also approved about $187,000 for 1,600 NEOGOV licenses through Carahsoft and about $607,000 for the third year of the city’s CentralSquare police records management agreement.

Another agreement provides about $396,000 for 16 C-THRU thermal-imaging augmented-reality units and related services for the Waco Fire Department.

During the work session, City Manager Ryan Holt said the C-THRU system combines artificial intelligence with forward-looking infrared technology to improve firefighter visibility in heavy smoke. He said Waco would become one of two fire departments in Texas participating in the vendor’s program and that firefighters would evaluate the equipment and provide feedback on its performance.

Holt said city firefighters tested the technology before the purchase and reported that it reduced the time needed to clear smoke-filled structures during testing.

The four agreements bring the combined value of the council’s technology approvals to about $4.2 million.

The approvals come as Waco prepares for a change in technology leadership. Gustavo Alba is scheduled to begin as the city’s new CIO on Sept. 28, overseeing municipal technology systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity and technical support across city departments. Alba most recently worked for the city of Frisco and previously held technology leadership roles with the city of Dallas and the New York City Department of Education.