Submitted By: Christopher Ramos
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Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
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Department: Information Technology
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Adopt Budget Resolution 2023-166 amending the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget to appropriate funds from the American Public Power Association in the amount of $66,545
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Fiscally Sustainable
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Department of Energy ("DOE") entered into a cooperative agreement with the American Public Power Association ("APPA"), Award Number DE-CR0000007, to develop and deploy cyber and cyber-physical operational technology ("OT") solutions within the public power community (the "Cooperative Agreement").
In May 2021, Ocala Electric Utility ("OEU") and the Information Technology ("IT") departments began working with APPA on this effort to find a solution to integrate with OEU's supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) network.
On April 21st, 2023, the American Public Power Association entered into a Participation Agreement with the City of Ocala ("Utility") awarding $431,545.
After reviewing several OT vendors for solutions that fulfill the requirements of the Participation Agreement, OEU and IT selected Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories ("SEL") to provide OT network infrastructure security.
APPA will contract with OEU through this Participation Agreement to help OEU address and overcome key cybersecurity challenges and maximize the long-term robustness and overall effectiveness of deployed solutions for the benefit of the electric industry.
The Procurement and Contracting Department, Information Technology Department and the Office of the City Attorney finalized the terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement with SEL on July 24th, 2023. SEL requires purchases of equipment to come directly from the City of Ocala and will not accept payments on-behalf of the City via APPA. Therefore, the City of...
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