Millions more headed to Texas for public safety projects
by Mary Scott Nabers
CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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Texas has also been successful in securing federal funds to build emergency operations centers. Nacogdoches and Victoria counties were awarded $1 million each for emergency facilities and the City of Del Rio was awarded $500,000. The money can be used either for new construction or renovations.
Most public safety funding eventually results in contracting opportunities for private sector companies. For example, Harris County announced a project to provide a new security system for the Houston Ship Channel. The anticipated cost for construction, programming and integrating the security surveillance system was $10 million.
And, the City of Houston reached out to outside contractors for security system maintenance services at five Houston Police Department facilities. When these types of opportunities arise, interested contractors should request information about the opportunities from the initiatives.
Opportunities for contracting with governmental entities are abundant. Many upcoming opportunities in Texas will be related to the following:
- Fusion centers are being planned throughout Texas as law enforcement agencies seek to gather and then share information.
- Funding is available for increasing security around critical infrastructure, such as chemical facilities, financial institutions, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums and other high-risk facilities.
- Law enforcement and other emergency first responders are seeking ways to improve communications interoperability.
- Funding is available to make airports more secure.
- Technology purchases, computer hardware and software, radios, surveillance cameras, recorders and other communications equipment are high-priority purchases for most law enforcement organizations in Texas.
There seems to be no doubt that the multi-billion-dollar public sector marketplace for public safety and security will continue to grow in the near future.
