Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information SheetCity of Denton
_____________________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Procurement & Compliance
CFO: Antonio Puente, Jr.
DATE: January 28, 2020
SUBJECT
Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal corporation,
authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with SSP Innovations, LLC, for the aid of Denton
Municipal Electric (DME)’s Operation Technology and related software systems, which is the sole provider
of this software, in accordance with Texas Local Government Code 252.022, which provides that
procurement of commodities and services that are available from one source are exempt from competitive
bidding, and if over $50,000 shall be awarded by the governing body; and providing an effective date (File
7210 – awarded to SSP Innovations, LLC, in the five (5) year not-to-exceed amount of $2,000,000). The
Public Utilities Board recommends approval (6 - 0).
INFORMATION/BACKGROUND
The City of Denton utilizes and maintains a master repository of records and maps for the installed electric
system equipment. A geographic information/facilities management system (referred to as “GIS”) was the
method chosen by the City of Denton (COD) twenty-three years ago. GIS software assists electric utilities
by increasing productivity and improving services through effective management of spatial data. ESRI was
selected as the base system, and the companion Schneider Electric ArcFM electrical specialty line was
selected for the electric system data application. This allows DME the capability to run database queries on
the transmission and distribution electric systems infrastructure, fiber communications infrastructure, create
engineering and operations maps and provide electronic maps for field use. The electric GIS has become a
core product for DME and is now used to provide GIS data that assists with financial fixed asset accounting,
budget preparations, and presentations requiring governing board approvals, distribution engineering
analysis, and outage management tracking and reporting.
Technology Services delivers operational data to all departments within DME. The DME maps, as well as
the key system integrations, are necessary for day-to-day functioning. As well as GIS, the department also
manages the Outage Management System (OMS), Interactive Voice Response system (IVR), Mobile
Workforce Management (MWFM), Fiber Communications infrastructure, Inspections, Mobile Mapping,
Public Facing Outage Map, and Internal Web Mapping Applications. The OMS also integrates with the
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Customer Information System (CIS), IVR systems,
and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
In 2014, a five-year work plan was established that would identify the major GIS related software
implementations and integrations that DME would need to utilize in the changing electric utility landscape.
The result of this two-year period of work is a long-term work plan for the department through 2024 and a
plan for a five-year Professional Services Agreement with SSP Innovations, LLC.
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
In 2017, the DME GIS group was migrated to the Technology Services group to improve the organizational
synergies and group like functions under one department. Several projects were completed under the PSA.
The long-term plan for the DME-TS group focused on five main pillars:
• Improve GIS data development & develop data standards for electric & fiber data
• Improve & expand application implementations & integrations that improve efficiencies
• Promote & expand awareness of GIS capabilities & educate decision-makers to the benefits of GIS
• Offer & improve training & technical support to day-to-day users of GIS and related systems.
• Continue to offer available and accessible systems with 24/7 support
The result of this planning was the identification of a need for professional services to assist in deploying a
robust set of software implementations, integrations, and customizations at DME. SSP Innovations has been
selected as the vendor to enter into a PSA contract to assist in these projects. SSP Innovations has a proven
track record of work within the Telecom and Electric utility industries.
The Denton Municipal Electric has utilized SSP Innovations to deliver GIS consulting needs to the DME
organization since 2016. Services are performed by SSP Professional Services staff who possess unique
and extensive experience in the planning and implementation of GIS products and application technology
for electric utilities. SSP Innovations staff have an in-depth understanding of ESRI, ARC FM and OMS
responder product technology, access to the newest software developments, and visibility into future
product directions. SSP has built several tools to assist DME to better monitor, analyze, design, and
maintain the transmission and distribution systems. These tools are unique to SSP and provide insight into
our system. One tool is a product called Sync. Sync will allow DME to maintain interfaces and functionality
with critical systems such as Responder and the Trilliant AMI network. This product was designed based
on real-world experiences helping customers diagnose and resolve their system performance problems.
Sync will be only available from SSP and staff research has not identified any other providers of a software
with the capabilities of Sync. Sync is available only as part of the SSP services contract. If Sync is not used,
then Technology Services would need to identify a similar custom product that has not been tested or
recommended by ESRI, which is our current GIS application provider.
SSP Innovations is a fifteen-year-old utility GIS consulting company that is based near Denver, Colorado.
SSP Innovations has the most extensive experience with Schneider Electric ArcFM implementation and
integration projects. In 2015 and 2016, ESRI awarded SSP Innovations with Partnership Awards at the
ESRI Partner Conference. SSP Innovations is also a member of ESRI’s 12 member ESRI Partnering
Advisory Council. Technology Services recognizes the partnership between ESRI and SSP Innovations and
the importance of this relationship to the future of the utility GIS industry. SSP Innovations has performed
installation, configuration, data conversion, data modeling, and training projects for many utilities. SSP
Innovation’s work with solution-oriented consulting will help DME with many projects including database
health and tuning, upgrades, and filling needed technological gaps with customization and integration
projects.
SSP Innovations has performed GIS integrations with Customer Information Systems (CIS), Enterprise
Asset Management (EAM), Work Management Systems, Inventory, Payroll, Engineering Analysis, Outage
Management Systems, Document Management, One-Call (Line Locate), Mobile Work Force Management
(MWFM), Integrated Voice Response, Customer Notification Systems, Materials Management and more.
SSP Innovations has performed work with many other municipal utilities across the United States including
Garland Power & Light (Garland, TX), CPS Energy (San Antonio, TX), City of Houston (Houston, TX),
City of New Braunfels (New Braunfels, TX), Memphis Light Gas & Water (Memphis, TN), and Burbank
Water & Power (Burbank, CA). SSP Innovations also has worked with CoServ (Corinth, TX), Texas-New
Mexico Power (Lewisville, TX), Tri-County Electric (Azle, TX), Alabama Power (Birmingham, AL) and
Georgia Power (Atlanta, GA).
Section 252.022 of the Local Government Code provides that procurement of sole source commodities and
services are exempt from competitive bidding, if over $50,000, shall be awarded by the governing body.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On January 13, 2020, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) recommended this item to the City Council for
consideration.
RECOMMENDATION
Award with a contract to SSP Innovations, LLC, as a sole source supplier, for the aid of Denton Municipal
Electric (DME)’s Operation Technology and related software systems in an amount not to exceed
$2,000,000.
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
SSP Innovations, LLC
Centennial, CO
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
This is a five (5) year contract.
FISCAL INFORMATION
These services will be funded from Technology Services job cost account 840095744.1365.30100.
Requisition # 143207 has been entered into the Purchasing software system in the amount of $184,998. The
budgeted amount for this item is $2,000,000.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1: Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2: LLC Members
Exhibit 3: Ordinance and Contract
Respectfully submitted:
Lori Hewell, 349-7100
Purchasing Manager
For information concerning this acquisition, contact: Melissa Kraft, 349-7823.
Legal point of contact: Mack Reinwand at 940-349-8333.