CLEARWATER (PINELLAS COUNTY) · LOCALlocal legislationPassed

Passed

Approval of $1.19 Million Utility Billing System Contract

Original title: Approve an agreement with Cayenta, a division of N. Harris Computer Corp., of British Columbia, Canada, for support and maintenance, professional services, and hosted AI agent services in support of the Utility Billing Management System, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,192,873.13, for the 5-year term beginning November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2030, pursuant to Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(d), Non-competitive purchase (impractical), and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)

January 15, 2026

utility billing government contracts artificial intelligence information technology municipal budget

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The Frame

What this does

This contract commits $1,192,873.13 in city funds over five years to manage utility billing operations and implement AI-driven customer service tools for residents.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Cayenta

The company is contracted to provide software maintenance and AI services to the city for a five-year period.

City Utility Customers

Customers will interact with the new AI-driven utility billing system for account management and support.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 15, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The city has approved a five-year, $1.19 million contract with Cayenta for maintenance, professional services, and AI-powered customer service tools for the city's utility billing system. This agreement was processed as a non-competitive purchase, meaning it was awarded without a standard bidding process.

Key Facts

The city approved a contract with Cayenta for utility billing system support, maintenance, and AI agent services.
The total cost of the contract is capped at $1,192,873.13.
The contract term spans five years, from November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2030.
The contract was approved as a 'non-competitive purchase' under Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(d) due to being deemed impractical to bid.
The agreement includes the implementation of hosted AI agent services for utility billing.
The action item was introduced and passed on December 17, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was this contract awarded without a competitive bidding process?

The city cited Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(d), which allows for non-competitive purchases when a standard bidding process is determined to be impractical.

What services will Cayenta provide under this contract?

Cayenta will provide support and maintenance for the Utility Billing Management System, professional services, and .

How long does this contract last?

The contract is for a five-year term, beginning November 1, 2025, and ending October 31, 2030.

Why It Matters

This contract commits $1,192,873.13 in city funds over five years to manage utility billing operations and implement AI-driven customer service tools for residents.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Adoption of AI in Utility Services

The city is explicitly moving toward 'hosted AI agent services' for utility billing, indicating a shift toward automated customer service interfaces.

Cayenta Clearwater

Connected Entities

organizationN. Harris Computer Corp.“Parent company of Cayenta based in British Columbia, Canada.”Map →

organizationCayenta“A division of N. Harris Computer Corp. providing software and AI services.”Map →

locationClearwater“The municipality entering into the agreement.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

webapi.legistar.com

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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