Danbury Board of Awards unanimously approves 15 contracts, including $2.14M police HVAC retrofit and emergency IT security purchase

The Danbury City Board of Awards met July 23 and unanimously approved a slate of 15 purchasing items and contracts covering municipal technology, school equipment, public‑safety facilities and maintenance, and an emergency information‑technology purchase.

Purchasing agent Jake Volker opened the meeting, read the attendance list and presented each departmental requisition. The largest award was a $2,136,992 contract proposed with Johnson Controls for HVAC retrofits at the Danbury Police Department. Volker and staff noted the contract incorporates work from a prior project development agreement awarded in October 2023 and that the $85,000 earlier PDA rolls into the contract if the board moves forward. The board approved the award, contingent on final contract review.

The board also approved a sole‑source maintenance agreement with Honeywell for municipal school temperature‑control systems (listed in the agenda at roughly $288,884) and a replacement of carbon monoxide detectors at Danbury High School (United Alarms, $19,277.96). Technology services purchases approved included Comcast cable/remote‑site internet service ($79,500 estimated) and a NeoGov recruitment/onboarding license renewal ($22,775.94).

Several purchases for Danbury Career Academy and school instructional needs were approved: laboratory and environmental equipment from Granger ($72,342.37), science classroom equipment from Pocket Labs ($23,610), and athletic/gym equipment from National Equipment and Facility Solutions ($50,827.70). The engineering department said many of those purchases are on state contract and expect partial state reimbursement.

Other routine awards included security guard services for the library under the state Allied Universal contract (billing rate $39.73 per hour; estimated annual cost $95,000), a one‑year inventory/work‑order system for Public Utilities ($14,160), repairs from CN1 Enviro ($16,820.83), and vehicle rentals for police special investigations under the state Enterprise Rent‑A‑Car contract (estimated $30,000, funded from federal forfeiture assets). Health and Human Services secured a sole‑source housing administrative and certification services contract with NP Rentals Management (sole‑source justification noted the vendor has provided these services since 2017), and a medical consulting renewal with Dr. William Beck was approved contingent on contract execution.

Late in the meeting the board unanimously agreed to add an emergency item to the agenda to purchase a Darktrace network security appliance and related licenses through SHI International. The emergency motion was made after staff said an existing email‑security license was expiring this week; staff and the IT director argued bundling the appliance and three‑year licenses would both renew the expiring protection and save on multiyear costs. Frank Gentile, the city's director of technology services (introduced earlier by Volker), said he would review an alternative cooperative and later told the board, "I'll be doing that this week." Another attendee described the software as intended to "help and assist the city in reducing the risk of ransomware and malware attacks." The board approved the SHI award contingent on corporation counsel review; the vendor quote showed year‑one cost at $69,589.23 with similar amounts for years two and three as listed in the requisition.

All motions reported in the meeting minutes were carried by unanimous vote. The board adjourned after approving the listed items.

Votes at a glance (approved items from the July 23 agenda): - CCM annual membership fee — $47,464 — approved unanimously. - Library security services (Allied Universal) — rate $39.73/hr; est. $95,000/year — approved unanimously. - Housing administration/certification (NP Rentals Management) — sole‑source — approved unanimously. - Medical consulting renewal (Dr. William Beck) — contingent on execution — approved unanimously. - Police rental vehicles (Enterprise) — est. $30,000 — approved unanimously. - Equipment repairs (CN1 Enviro) — $16,820.83 — sole‑source — approved unanimously. - Work‑order/inventory software (Public Utilities) — $14,160/year — approved unanimously (contingent on corp. counsel review). - Honeywell school temperature‑control maintenance — listed at roughly $288,884 (sole‑source) — approved unanimously. - HVAC retrofit (Johnson Controls) — $2,136,992 — approved unanimously (contingent on contract review). - Carbon monoxide detectors (Danbury High School, United Alarms) — $19,277.96 — approved unanimously. - Comcast cable/remote internet services — $79,500 est. — approved unanimously (staff to review alternative cooperative). - NeoGov recruitment/onboarding license — $22,775.94 — approved unanimously. - Granger lab/equipment purchase — $72,342.37 — approved unanimously. - Pocket Labs science equipment — $23,610 — approved unanimously. - Athletic/gym equipment (National Equipment & Facility Solutions) — $50,827.70 — approved unanimously. - Emergency: Darktrace IT security appliance and three‑year licensing (SHI International) — year 1 quoted $69,589.23 (years 2–3 quoted similarly) — added as emergency and approved unanimously, contingent on corporation counsel review.

The board did not record any roll‑call dissent or abstentions in the meeting transcript provided; all items recorded in the minutes were carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned after the awards and emergency item were approved.