Knight Security Systems, a security systems integrator, announced that the company was awarded the largest single security contract in Texas for 2009 by Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to ensure the security and safety of residents and staff at 12 state-supported living centers located across the state. The contract, valued at more than US$12 million, was designed specifically for the department and will install a network of more than 3,000 HD video cameras in 335 buildings across the state.
Knight Security Systems, a security systems integrator, announced that the company was awarded the largest single security contract in Texas for 2009 by Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to ensure the security and safety of residents and staff at 12 state-supported living centers located across the state. The contract, valued at more than US$12 million, was designed specifically for the department and will install a network of more than 3,000 HD video cameras in 335 buildings across the state.
The project is to be completed by Aug. 2011, as required by the DADS contract, but Knight Security believes it could finish six months ahead of schedule. The installation, which includes nearly 35 miles of fiber cabling within the video surveillance network, will be installed and completed in three phases, requiring an average of four to five months for each phase of four campuses in Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Denton, El Paso, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, Harlingen (Rio Grande campus), San Angelo and San Antonio.
The DADS was created to administer long-term services and supports for people who are aging and who have cognitive and physical disabilities. DADS also licenses and regulates providers of these services, and administers the state's guardianship program. The department began formal operations on Sept. 1, 2004.
By standardizing each component of the system—video cameras, network switches, power backups, management systems — Knight Security is able to engineer each system by building and campus. This provides cost and time savings while deploying a more robust and reliable system configuration. Installation and on-site maintenance are less intrusive, and safety and security are enhanced via centralized monitoring and control.
The Texas DADS project was implemented through the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) purchasing process, and Knight Security has procured more than 50 percent HUB participation among its subcontractors. Knight is a licensed DIR vendor and is also licensed by the Texas DPS Private Security Bureau.
As the lead contractor on the project, Knight Security has enlisted installation and infrastructure hardware and software partners well established on security and infrastructure projects with the State of Texas.
KST Electric, a full-service electrical, data and communication contracting company based in Manor, Texas, is a major partner on the project and will manage the installation of the nearly 35 miles of fiber optic cable and all interior network cabling for the system infrastructure. Voted the best women-owned business in 2008, HUB-certified KST has 600 employees and has executed multiple projects with the State of Texas.
Austin-based Applied Network Security will help with camera installation, system programming and network head-end configuration. Applied Network Security is also HUB-certified and has worked with Knight on numerous other installations.
Knight Security Systems is responsible for general project management and administration; video system design, engineering and assignments; overall project acceptance and training; and ongoing service-level agreement and technical support.