Contracting opportunities abound as new federal funding heads to Texas

Following is an overview outlining some of the funding designated for Texas:

• Commerce, justice and science - This funding source totals more than $27.8 million for Texas. $4.9 million has been designated for the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition with funding to be used for technology and equipment necessary to secure the state's border. Another $705,000 will be spent on crime lab technologies at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Training programs should result from a $352,000 earmark for Travis County's Texas Sheriffs Regional Law Enforcement Training Center. Other earmarks include $211,000 for technology needs of the Austin Police Department, $658,000 for enhancements at the Baylor Physical Sciences Laboratory and $658,000 to Eagle Pass for a border law enforcement training program. Cameron County will get $47,000 to address interoperable communications and the city of Port Aransas will receive $47,000 for communications equipment. Another $1 million will go to NASA's Johnson Space Center for computer operations and improvements.
• Homeland security - A number of cities and other governmental entities will share more than $17 million in earmarks set aside for homeland security projects. Homeland security needs can include training, technology upgrades, equipment and security needs. Funding of $1 million each was set aside for the cities of Fort Worth and Georgetown and another $1 million was earmarked for the Harris County Flood Control District. A $5.2 million allocation is going to rebuild a station and waterfront at the Coast Guard's Base Galveston.
• Labor, Health and Human Services - Texas gains more than $25 million in earmarks in this category, including $195,000 to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for purchase of equipment and $170,000 for equipment for the Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen.
• Transportation and Housing - Ten different entities in Texas will share the more than $186 million earmarked in this category. San Antonio garnered $4.9 million for VIA's rapid transit corridor program and in Fort Worth, $539,000 is set aside for facilities design, construction and property acquisition for the Trinity River Vision Plan. This category also includes thousands of dollars for highway construction earmarks in the cities of Longview and White Bluff as well as for improvements to U.S. 290 and State Highway 36.
• Interior, Environment - More than $15 million in congressional earmarks was set aside for infrastructure projects in Texas. Included are $492,000 for water and sewer initiatives in Killeen, $197,000 for a wastewater treatment facility in Sabinal and $788,000 for sewer and water projects in San Antonio.
• Defense - Federal funding of $120 million was earmarked for defense research, development and testing projects in Texas.

To view one of SPI's customized reports on which Texas regions and governmental entities will benefit from new earmarks, click here.

There are hundreds of contracting opportunities in Texas as a result of the new funding. Individual agencies and/or organizations will have more information on specific projects.