Clearwater City Council Approves $266,796 McKim and Creed Contract for SCADA and PLC Standards

Clearwater City Council approved a significant engineering consulting contract for $266,796.00 to McKim and Creed of Tampa, FL, during its meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The work order, identified as ID#26-0743, focuses on developing SCADA and PLC Standards and Policies for the city's utility operations.

This contract directly impacts the city's infrastructure, specifically its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems. These systems are critical for monitoring and controlling essential services like water treatment and distribution, wastewater management, and other utility functions. Establishing robust standards ensures the reliability, security, and efficiency of these vital operations, which directly affects the quality and consistency of services residents receive.

The services provided by McKim and Creed involve engineering consulting to create comprehensive standards and policies for these complex control systems. This work, referenced internally as project 26-0030-UT, aims to modernize and standardize how the city manages its automated utility infrastructure. The approval followed a process initiated by Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 34-23, which sought Engineer of Record (EOR) Consulting Services.

The City Council's decision on agenda item 6.16 means that appropriate city officials now have authorization to execute the work order. This move represents a proactive step by Clearwater to enhance its operational resilience and ensure its utility systems meet current best practices and future demands. Residents can expect improved reliability in critical city services as these new standards are developed and implemented.