Technology Strategy & Roadmaps
Multi-year plans that connect technology investments to agency priorities and budgets.
Capability
Technology Advisory & Systems Engineering
Independent technical advice, requirements, architecture, procurement support, and oversight for agency technology programs.
Overview
Agencies make large technology decisions with small teams: replacing an ERP, selecting a permitting system, modernizing a utility billing platform, or building a new data center. HQT provides independent technical expertise for those programs, from defining requirements through vendor selection, implementation oversight, and acceptance.
We do not resell the products we help evaluate. That independence lets us give agencies advice that serves the agency.
Where we help
- Technology strategy and roadmaps
- Requirements engineering and system architecture
- RFP development and vendor evaluation support
- Owner's technical representative and implementation oversight
- Independent verification, validation, and acceptance testing
- Project and program management support
- Systems engineering support for federal programs through teaming partners
How we approach it
We write requirements that vendors can price and that agencies can test. We design evaluations that compare solutions on evidence. During implementation we track risk, review deliverables, and make sure the agency gets what it paid for.
Services
Requirements Engineering & Architecture
Clear, testable requirements and architectures that vendors can build to.
RFP Development & Vendor Evaluation
Solicitations that attract good proposals and evaluations that compare them fairly.
Owner's Technical Representative
Independent oversight of vendor implementations on the agency’s behalf.
Independent Verification & Validation
Independent confirmation that a system does what it is supposed to do.
Acceptance & Test Support
Test planning, execution, and automation so agencies accept systems with confidence.
Project & Program Management Support
Experienced technical project managers for agency initiatives.
Federal Systems Engineering Support
Systems engineering and technical assistance for federal programs through teaming partners.
Technology Advisory & Systems Engineering by agency type
- Technology Advisory for Cities and TownsIndependent help specifying, buying, and overseeing the systems a city will live with for a decade.
- Technology Advisory and Systems Engineering for State AgenciesRequirements, architecture, independent verification, and oversight on large state technology programs.
- Technology Advisory for Special Districts and AuthoritiesIndependent technical leadership for agencies that need judgment more than they need staff.
- Technology Advisory and Systems Engineering for County GovernmentsIndependent requirements, procurement, and oversight support for multi-department county system replacements that carry federal funding conditions.
- Technology Advisory for Water, Power, and Public UtilitiesIndependent requirements, procurement, and oversight support for utilities replacing billing, asset management, and metering systems.
- Technology Advisory for School Districts and CollegesIndependent requirements, procurement, and oversight support for districts and colleges replacing student information, finance, and learning systems.
- Technology Advisory and Systems Engineering for Transit and Transportation AgenciesRequirements, architecture, procurement, and oversight support for agencies buying fare, scheduling, and traffic systems under federal rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do you resell the products you evaluate?
No. HQT has no reseller relationships with the products it helps agencies evaluate or oversee, and we do not bid on solicitations we helped write. Independence is documented in the engagement agreement.
What does an owner's technical representative do?
Represents the agency's technical interests during a vendor implementation: reviewing deliverables against the contract, tracking risk, analyzing change requests, validating data migration, and advising on acceptance and go-live.
Can you help write our RFP?
Yes. We develop statements of work, testable requirements, evaluation criteria, demonstration scripts, and contract exhibits such as service levels and acceptance criteria, working with the agency's purchasing office.
What is independent verification and validation?
Independent confirmation that a system was built correctly and meets the agency's needs, performed by a party other than the one that built it. It is often required by state and federal funding for large systems.
How do you price advisory work?
Fixed price for defined deliverables such as an assessment or a solicitation package, and time and materials with a ceiling for ongoing oversight through an implementation.