Agenda Item
a. Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI) Temporary Information Technology Staffing Services (Not to Exceed $1,787,060)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve utilizing temporary information technology staffing services through Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI) for an amount not to exceed $1,787,060.
Why: The Division of Information & Instructional Technology (DIIT) manages a complex technology environment supporting instructional systems, enterprise platforms, cybersecurity operations, network infrastructure, and district-wide digital services. In addition to maintaining daily operations, DIIT is responsible for implementing major technology initiatives that often require specialized expertise for defined periods of time.
To support these evolving needs, DIIT requires the ability to supplement its workforce with short-term, specialized technical resources aligned to specific project phases and operational demands. Utilizing temporary staffing through the State of Georgia’s approved IT staffing contract allows the district to address workload fluctuations, obtain specialized expertise when needed, and transition between skill sets as projects evolve without creating permanent staffing obligations.
Details: Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI) is the State of Georgia’s authorized vendor for temporary IT staffing services. Through this statewide contract, the district may engage qualified technology professionals on an hourly or project-based basis under state-established terms, conditions, and rate schedules.
Unlike traditional service contracts, staff augmentation services do not include a fixed scope of work or vendor quote. Instead, resources are engaged on an as-needed basis based on district priorities, project timelines, and operational requirements. Contracted personnel work under district direction and alongside permanent staff to support defined initiatives and provide specialized expertise when required.
These resources may assist with a variety of district technology initiatives including infrastructure modernization, enterprise system implementations, cybersecurity initiatives, data analytics efforts, and instructional technology deployments.
Representative Roles Provided:
Physical Security Engineer
Network Operations Center (NOC) Engineer
Data Visualization Project Lead
Project Manager
Solutions Architect
Technology Strategist Consultant
Telecommunications Engineer
Network Engineer
Enterprise Services Engineer
Database and Application Development
Hourly rates range from approximately $60 to $154 per hour, depending on role classification under the State of Georgia’s approved CAI rate schedule. In many cases, these rates are comparable to the combined salary and benefits costs of full-time staff while providing the district with flexibility to scale resources based on project demand.
Staff augmentation allows DIIT to maintain service levels, meet project timelines, and address specialized technical needs without adding permanent positions, enabling full-time staff to focus on daily operations and institutional knowledge. The requested renewal is lower than prior years due to successful hiring of permanent staff; however, staff augmentation, composed of subject matter experts, will remain a strategic, ongoing component of DIIT’s workforce model to support major initiatives, emerging technical demands, and time-limited projects.
Financial impact: General Fund 100.2800.530000.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Pending Approval by the Office of Legal Affairs
Chronology- Computer Aid Inc.
The Division of Information & Instructional Technology (DIIT) manages a complex and evolving
technology environment that includes districtwide infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity
initiatives, instructional systems, and enterprise platforms. To ensure continuity of operations
while advancing time-limited and highly specialized initiatives, DIIT supplements its permanent
workforce with temporary information technology staffing resources when appropriate.
To support this model, DeKalb County Schools utilizes Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI), the State of
Georgia’s approved vendor for temporary IT staffing services. Through this statewide contract,
contracted personnel may be engaged on an hourly or project-based basis under
state-established terms, conditions, and rate schedules. These resources work under district
direction and alongside permanent staff to support defined initiatives and operational needs.
Staff augmentation enables DIIT to maintain service levels, meet project timelines, and address
specialized technical requirements without creating permanent staffing obligations. This
approach allows full-time staff to remain focused on daily operations and institutional knowledge
while external resources provide targeted support for large-scale or short-duration efforts.
Representative Roles/Project Services Provided:
● Physical Security Engineer
Supports the design, implementation, integration, and maintenance of physical security
systems, including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, and
emergency communication systems, ensuring alignment with district safety standards
and regulatory requirements
● Network Operations Center (NOC) Engineer
Provides monitoring and operational support for district network systems, responds to
incidents, assists with troubleshooting, and helps maintain service availability and
performance across school and administrative sites.
● Data Visualization Project Lead
Supports the design, development, and delivery of interactive dashboards and data
products
● Project Manager
Assists with planning, coordination, scheduling, and tracking of technology initiatives to
support on-time delivery, risk management, and communication across stakeholders and
project teams.
● Solutions Architect
Supports the design and evaluation of technical solutions by assessing requirements,
system integrations, and technical constraints to ensure proposed solutions align with
district standards and long-term architecture.
● Technology Strategist Consultant
Provides advisory support for technology planning efforts, helps assess impacts and
dependencies across systems, and supports development of roadmaps and
implementation approaches for complex or cross-functional initiatives.
● Telecommunications Engineer
Assists with the design, configuration, and support of voice, unified communications, and
telephony systems, including VoIP infrastructure, call routing, and connectivity services,
to ensure reliable and secure communication across district facilities.
● Network Engineer
Assists with the design, implementation, and support of network infrastructure, including
switching, routing, wireless, and connectivity services, to maintain reliable and secure
access to district systems.
● Enterprise Services Engineer
Supports district enterprise platforms and core services, assists with system integrations,
reliability, and performance, and helps maintain stable operations across critical
business and instructional systems.
● Database and Application Development
Provides development and support services for district applications and databases,
including enhancements, integrations, testing, and maintenance to meet evolving
operational and instructional needs.
These roles support a wide range of district technology initiatives, including enterprise system
upgrades, cybersecurity enhancements, network modernization, cloud migrations, instructional
technology deployments, data analytics initiatives, and enterprise platform implementations.
Historically, DIIT has leveraged CAI-supported resources across technical and project-based
functions such as network engineering, enterprise services, application development, data
analytics, and project management, with specific assignments varying annually based on district
priorities and subject to administrative oversight.
Because the CAI statewide contract provides staff augmentation services rather than a fixed
scope of work, a formal quote is not included. Resources are engaged on an as-needed basis
using state-established hourly rates for specific technical roles and assignments vary depending
on current project requirements.
Procurement:
Pursuant to Board of Education Purchasing Policy DJE III.D.3(d), the Purchasing Department is
authorized to procure services through contracts formally solicited and awarded by the State of
Georgia in order to achieve cost savings, administrative efficiencies, and compliance with
established procurement standards. Accordingly, temporary information technology staffing
services will be obtained through Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI), the State of Georgia’s approved
vendor for IT staff augmentation, utilizing Georgia Statewide Contract
99999-001-SPD0000149-0001.
Financial Impact:
Year Cost
2024-25 $3,444,996
2025-26 $2,550,987.20
2026-27 $1,787,060 Requested