FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance
SUBJECT:
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NETWORK TEST ACCESS POINTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM NETWORK AND OFFICE NETWORK
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
A. Approve a Purchase Order Contract to Insight Public Sector, Inc. for the purchase of Network Test Access Points for the Industrial Control System network and Office network utilizing the OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, Contract No. 23-6692-03, for a total amount not to exceed $331,392 (includes sales tax); and
B. Approve a contingency of $33,139 (10%).
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BACKGROUND
Network Test Access Points (TAPs) is a modern method for monitoring mission-critical and high-volume environments. TAPs operate independently of network equipment and provide a complete, real-time view of network activity without risk of causing performance issues and network outages.
The current Network TAPs no longer meet the technical requirements due to recent upgrades to the Office and Industrial Control System (ICS) network equipment, which now operate at much higher speeds.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Protect OC San assets
• Ensure the public’s money is wisely spent
• 24/7/365 treatment plan reliability
• Maintain a culture of improving efficiency to reduce the cost to provide the current service level or standard
PROBLEM
The current Network TAPs initially acquired by the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) are not compatible with the high-speed network links (40/100 gigabits per second [Gbps]) used in both the Office and ICS networks. These links connect backbone switches within OC San's infrastructure. Because the current Network TAPs cannot support these high-speed connections, they are unable to capture or monitor traffic at the necessary line rates, creating a substantial visibility gap for operational and cybersecurity monitoring. The original TAPs hardware was purchased based on the legacy network architecture. Due to recent upgrades to the Office and ICS network equipment, the original TAP hardware no longer meets the technical requirements. The previously purchased TAP appliances will be returned, and OC San will receive a $150,000 credit from the vendor.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Upgrade the Network TAPs to support the 40/100 Gbps links connecting the backbone networks. Six Network TAPs are required across Plant Nos. 1 and 2 to ensure complete coverage of both Office and ICS networks.
TIMING CONCERNS
Delays in upgrading the Network TAPs hardware may negatively affect implementation schedules for other projects, prolong reliance on unsupported legacy equipment, and postpone necessary visibility enhancements.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
Failing to upgrade Network TAPs hardware will leave OC San without essential visibility into high-speed network traffic. This gap significantly reduces OC San’s ability to identify anomalous activity, detect emerging threats, and respond effectively to potential cybersecurity incidents across Office and ICS environments.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
October 2025 - Approved a Purchase Order Contract to Insight Public Sector, Inc. for the purchase of Network Test Access Points for the Industrial Control System (ICS) network and Office network utilizing the OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, Contract No. 23-6692-03, for a total amount not to exceed $250,231 (Includes Sales Tax); and approved a contingency in the amount of $25,023 (10%).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Based on network hardware review, staff recommends approving the Purchase Order Contract to Insight Public Sector, Inc. utilizing the OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, Contract No. 23-6692-03.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with the authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This item has been budgeted (Budget FY2026-27 and 2027-28, Section 8, page 83, Information Technology) and the budget is sufficient for the recommended action.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
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