Title
The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract 6007899 with Box Inc. for licensing, support, configuration and upgrades for DWSD’s enterprise content management platform, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $2,240,000.00 and a term of 5 years. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
Body
Agenda of June 17, 2026
Item No. 2026-129
Contract No.: 6007899
Contractor: Box, Inc.
Address: 900 Jefferson Ave., Redwood, CA 94063
Contract Amount: $2,240,000.00
Contract Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/31
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Gary Brown, Director
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Proposed DWSD Contract No. 6007899
Licensing, support, configuration and upgrade for DWSD’s enterprise content management platform, BOX
Box, Inc.
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Marqaicha Welch, Procurement Manager, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department, authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract 6007899 with Box Inc. for licensing, support, configuration and upgrades for DWSD’s enterprise content management platform, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $2,240,000.00 and a term of 5 years. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION
This request is to approve a new sole source contract for the continued licensing, configuration, support, and future upgrades of Box, Inc. over a five-year period, from July 2026 through June 2-31, with a total value of $2,240,000.00. This is a sole source procurement, as Box, Inc. is the proprietary provider of the enterprise cloud content management platform currently utilized by DWSD for secure cloud storage, file sharing, synchronization, e-signatures, and collaboration.
The platform is deeply integrated into DWSD’s existing business processes and systems, making transitions to an alternate provider operationally disruptive, cost-prohibitive, and high risk.
DWSD previously procured these services through CDW as an authorized third-party reseller of Box licenses and services. This sole source request represents a direct contract with Box, Inc., eliminating the reseller layer and enabling more favorable commercial terms through a multi-year enterprise agreement. By entering into a direct agreement with Box, Inc., DWSD anticipates cost savings and improved pricing stability. Approval of this request will ensure continuity of critical enterprise services while achieving cost efficiencies and strengthening the vendor relationship.
With the planned upgrades and internal business improvements, DWSD will be providing options to its’ customers:
• Increased Security - embedding governance, retention, and threat detection directly into the platform
• Adaptability and Scalability
• Streamlined Workflows - Productivity improvements realized through the centralization of content and the automation of workflows. Employees no longer need to navigate multiple systems or manually manage document processes. Instead, workflows are streamlined, and content is accessible in real time, enabling faster decision-making and execution.
• Real time reporting - Dashboard provides configurable dashboards and reporting tools that give leadership and operational teams visibility into content activity, workflow status and document lifecycle stages.
• Document Generation and E-signature - Box Doc Gen and Box Sign, DWSD can automatically generate documents and route them for secure electronic signature directly within Box. Data from metadata filed, forms, or integrated systems can populate document templates for permits, contracts, approvals, and other operational documents.
PROCUREMENT METHOD - SOLE SOURCE
This Proposed Contract was initiated through requisition #546652 and approved by budget on 5/7/26. The Proposed Contract is procured as a sole source exception from competition due to Box, Inc. is the sole provider of the current system that serves as DWSD’s enterprise content management platform. The ECS was signed by the Director on 4/27/26.
Box, Inc. has approved clearances and expires on 5/19/27 and a formal contract will be sent to the vendor for signature. document is not required. Per procurement protocol, Mayoral approval will also be obtained.
SUMMARY
A. Contract No.: 6007899
B. Contractor: Box, Inc.
C. Contract Amount: $2,240,000.00
D. Contract Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/31
E. Funding Source: O&M Funds
F. GL String(s):
5720-20168-483301-622302-000205-10790-0000-000000 - 38.2% Water
5820-20179-493301-622302-000226-15805-0000-000000 - 61.8% Sewer
G. Projected Fiscal Year (FY) Contract Expenditures:
FY 27: $354,777.00
FY 28: $452,004.00
FY 29: $464,616.00
FY 30: $477,610.00
FY 30: $490,993.00
This proposed contract was presented to the BOWC Finance Committee on June 3, 2026. Per the DWSD Procurement Policy, Mayoral review will also be obtained.