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Council approves $637,000 in SCADA contracts to modernize water telemetry system
Summary
Council authorized a professional services agreement ($320,950) and a small‑works contract ($316,546.90) with Technical Systems Inc. to replace aging SCADA controls and field equipment for Oak Harbor’s water system, and approved a $150,000 change‑order allowance.
The Oak Harbor City Council on July 1 approved contracts to modernize the city’s water SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) telemetry system, citing obsolete equipment and cybersecurity risks.
Engineering technician John Pollock said the city’s SCADA hardware and software runs on Windows 7, uses aging programmable logic controllers and network interface cards that are out of production, and relies on a radio/copper network with parts that are increasingly unavailable. The telemetry system monitors reservoir levels, pump stations, pressure reducing valves and chlorine levels and alerts operators to failures; it also supports remote pump control and security monitoring.
After a competitive process, staff recommended Technical Systems Incorporated for both the professional services agreement (programming and design) and the small‑works install contract. Council authorized a PSA for $320,950 and a small‑works contract for $316,546.90, and granted the public works director a change‑order allowance of $150,000 to cover potential supply‑chain and tariff risks. The total authorized not‑to‑exceed amount for the project remained below the capital budget allocation the city had set aside.
Council members said the upgrade is long overdue; Pollock said it will improve reliability, cybersecurity posture and the city’s ability to monitor and respond to water system problems. The motion passed unanimously.
