Danbury Board of Awards unanimously approves security contracts, software renewals and service extensions

The Danbury Board of Awards met July 22 and unanimously approved a series of contract awards, renewals and extensions covering security services, software subscriptions, environmental work and technology and facilities maintenance.

Charles J. Volpe, the city’s purchasing agent, presented the items and noted background information and justifications for each request. The board approved Allied Universal Security to provide security guard services at the Danbury Public Library at the State of Connecticut contract rate of $41.37 per hour (estimated $95,000 annually) after a motion by K. Pearson, the library director, and a second from J. Sterk, assistant finance director. The board later approved Allied Universal for security at City Hall at the same State contract rate, estimated at $102,000 annually; S. Hanley, superintendent of public buildings, moved that award.

The Police Department’s one-year renewal of the Cellebrite forensic software subscription for $36,750 was approved as a sole-source award after Deputy Chief M. Sturdevant presented a sole-source justification stating Cellebrite’s software is proprietary and no equivalent product is available. The Board carried the sole-source motion unanimously.

Public Utilities presented a July 2, 2026 proposal from WSP USA to perform environmental services tied to the stewardship permit for the closed Danbury landfill. Mr. Volpe said WSP proposed the work under its current on-call services contract with the city at an estimated cost of $90,000, to be charged to account #1005-43-4319-530101; K. Higgins moved to award the work per the on-call contract, and the board approved the motion unanimously.

The Public Buildings Department’s request to renew building operations management software and support with Brightly Software for $60,440.22 was approved as a sole-source award. S. Hanley noted Brightly is the proprietary developer of the system and that Brightly is in the process of being acquired by Siemens; the board carried the motion unanimously.

For facilities maintenance, the board extended Ratick Combustion’s boiler-cleaning contract for fiscal year 2026–27 with a 3% increase, continuing a renewal allowed under Bid #07-24-25-03. The board also approved United Alarm to perform annual fire alarm testing, inspection and cleaning for 22 Danbury public school buildings in an amount not to exceed $38,820; Mr. Hanley noted United Alarm has been acquired by Pye-Barker Fire & Safety.

Technology Services requested and received approval for several items: a sole-source award to Comcast for annual cable TV and remote-site internet services (estimated $81,000 annually), based on a memo from Technology Director Frank Gentile stating local network-extension requirements limit providers; an extension of Computer Integrated Services’ (CIS) IT support contract at $13,900 per month for fiscal year 2026–27, contingent on a contract amendment; and an AS400 secure cloud hosting service from CIS at $5,995 per month, also contingent on contract change orders. The board also approved Granicus to provide public meeting streaming, captioning and minute-taking services through the TIPS cooperative contract at $65,408.02, contingent on an acceptable agreement.

All motions reported in the meeting minutes were seconded and carried unanimously. Attorney T. Norris moved to adjourn and the board adjourned at 10:14 A.M.

Votes at a glance: Allied Universal Security (Library) — approved, est. $95,000/year; Cellebrite USA Corp. subscription renewal — approved, $36,750/year (sole source); WSP USA environmental services (landfill) — approved, est. $90,000; Brightly Software renewal — approved, $60,440.22 (sole source; noted pending acquisition by Siemens); Allied Universal Security (City Hall) — approved, est. $102,000/year; United Alarm (school fire alarm services) — approved, not to exceed $38,820; Ratick Combustion boiler-cleaning extension — approved with 3% increase; Comcast cable/remote-site internet services — approved, est. $81,000/year (sole source justification on file); CIS IT support extension — approved, $13,900/month (contingent contract amendment); CIS AS400 hosting — approved, $5,995/month (contingent change order); Granicus streaming/captioning/minutes — approved, $65,408.02 (TIPS cooperative contract).