High Priority Imagery and Datasets

• Overview
• Service Providers
• Projects & Initiatives
• Getting Started
• Performance Metrics

Overview

The Council on Competitive Government, has established a new procurement process designed to strengthen Texas' capabilities to create and maintain digital maps for government entities and the public. This new process was established through the use of a state master contract referred to as High Priority Imagery and Data Sets (HPIDS). High priority data sets are digital map layers used for emergency management, economic development and as a resource in making informed policy decisions.

Oversight of the HPIDS contracting process is administered by the Texas Water Development Board in conjunction with the Texas Natural Resources Information System—the state's clearinghouse for digtial maps and geographic data. The Texas contract is the first in the country to have the following combination of characteristics:

• A pool of qualified providers with common agreement to state quality standards, delivering the latest technology and services at competitive cost.
• State competition statutes have been met through this advertisement and selection method, giving state and local agencies an expedited path to purchasing.
• Integrated statement of work structure allows for individual projects to be defined and prioritized against a single master contract.
• Increased coordination of state efforts in acquisition of authoritative sources of geographic data.

This new Texas geographic information system (GIS) procurement model enhances the ability of the state to coordinate effectively with federal, regional and municipal governments and to actively manage geographic data resources as freely shared and integrated information. All public agencies will be engaged to share plans and information to combine funding, obtain volume discounts, and coordinate standardized products.

• Fact Sheet (PDF)
• The State of Texas Procurement Contract Management Guide: An in-depth guide about bid Evaluation and Award, including evaluation teams, scoring the responses, proposal evaluation, and negotiations (See Chapter 5, pages 44-47).