North Richland Hills Council awards $90,000 IT operational audit to Cogent Infotech
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Summary
The North Richland Hills City Council voted unanimously to award an information-technology operational efficiency audit to Cogent Infotech Corporation, a contract not to exceed $90,000. Council and staff said the review will examine systems and processes and produce recommendations for improvements.
The North Richland Hills City Council voted 7-0 April 28 to award RFP 20514 for an information-technology operational efficiency audit to Cogent Infotech Corporation and authorized the city manager to execute a professional services agreement not to exceed $90,000.
City staff presented the contract request. "The audit is intended to identify areas for improvement and streamline and refine our processes," Paulette Hartman said, describing the review’s goal of optimizing resource use and improving the city’s technology foundation. Hartman told the council the city issued three efficiency-audit RFPs in the current budget year (IT, fleet and permits) and that this IT award is the third of those contracts.
Hartman said the solicitation reached about 2,350 interested parties and that the city received 12 proposals specific to the IT audit. An internal evaluation committee recommended Cogent based on the firm’s qualifications and approach. Representatives from Cogent in the meeting identified Justin Accord (executive vice president), Casey Brinkman (senior director) and subject-matter expert Naga Pradeep as project contacts.
The winning proposal included a four-month active work plan with an anticipated start in May and completion expected in September 2025; the contract was structured as a one-year agreement to allow follow-up work if needed. Councilmembers asked whether the audit would review project-management practices tied to recent system rollouts; Hartman and the Cogent representatives confirmed the audit will evaluate operations broadly and identify areas where new tools or processes (including potential AI integration where feasible) could provide value.
Councilmember Matt Blake moved to award the contract; Councilmember Tito Rodriguez seconded. The motion passed seven-to-zero.
The audit award authorizes the city manager to sign a professional services agreement with Cogent Infotech Corporation for an IT operational efficiency audit in an amount not to exceed $90,000. No implementation tasks or budget amendments were approved at the meeting beyond authorization to execute the agreement.
