Houston, TX "Smart City" Contract Documentation (Information Technology)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

This request for contract documents related to all smart city technology purchased or in operation by this agency for the period from 1/1/2015 - present.

These smart city technologies include any contract document that contains:
- The terms “smart city.”
- Internet of Things (IoT) technologies (such as connected sensors, lights, and meters that collect data).
- Mobility data collection (such as “intelligent transportation system" or rideshare or cell-phone location data agreements).
- Video technologies (such as “closed-circuit television,” traffic, security, or streetlight cameras).

Specifically, I am requesting contract documents to which this agency and any smart city technology vendor are parties. These materials include:
- Any lists of related contracts.
- Any contracts, including any pilot, proof-of-concept, and public-private partnership agreements.
- Any data purchase, licensing, or exchange agreements.
- Any privacy policies or terms of use/service.
- Any vendor distribution lists for related requests for proposals.

If another office would be a more appropriate destination for this request, I would be happy to forward this request according to your direction. If additional agencies or jurisdictions would also have responsive or associated materials, the provision of the names of those entities would also be appreciated.

These records will be used to inform research on “smart city system” best practices as part of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs’ Technology and Public Purpose (TAPP) Project that culminates in May 2020. To accommodate this deadline and inclusion in analysis please expedite this request so that it is filled by February 2020. Because of our not-for-profit status and the fact that this request is about a matter in the public interest, I request a fee waiver. If you have any questions or would like to discuss narrowing the request, please contact me directly at rebeccawilliams@hks.harvard.edu or ‪(857) 400-0323.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Williams

Hi Jamil,

I am using a third-party service (Muckrock) to conduct public records requests for my research. Sometimes the software is finicky and goes to spam. The December 17th is automated from when the original message was sent -- happy to show you on my screen over a call. (It's currently private here: https://www.muckrock.com/foi/houston-113/houston-tx-smart-city-contract-documentation-information-technology-106123/#follow-up)

I am analyzing records from other cities and would like to include Houston in this research.

I am looking for contracts with these phrases in them:
The terms “smart city.”
- Internet of Things (IoT) technologies (such as connected sensors, lights, and meters that collect data).
- Mobility data collection (such as “intelligent transportation system" or rideshare or cell-phone location data agreements).
- Video technologies (such as “closed-circuit television,” traffic, security, or streetlight cameras).

Specifically, I am requesting contract documents to which this agency and any smart city technology vendor are parties. These materials include:
- Any lists of related contracts.
- Any contracts, including any pilot, proof-of-concept, and public-private partnership agreements.
- Any data purchase, licensing, or exchange agreements.
- Any privacy policies or terms of use/service.
- Any vendor distribution lists for related requests for proposals.

I can name vendors if needed, but was hoping my research would be vendor agnostic.

Happy to set up a time to talk this through: rebeccawilliams@hks.harvard.edu Let me know when you are next available for a call or video chat.

Rebecca

Hi Jamil,

I can't read the attachements. Can you send to rebeccawilliams@hks.harvard.edu?