Vegetation Management Enhancements (Senior Data Architect / Database Solutions Architect)

Responsibility

• Data Management
  • Load historical data and reference data into VMD.
  • Design and implement database structures, relationships, keys, and supporting components.
  • Establish repeatable data loading and maintenance processes
• Data Integration
  • Implement secure methods to access approved external data sources.
  • Minimize data duplication whenever possible.
  • Support reporting and analytics using both VMD and approved external sources.
• User Enablement
  • Provide secure low-code or no-code solutions for designated business users to maintain approved datasets.
  • Implement role-based security and auditing controls.
• Reporting and Analytics
  • Develop dashboards, scorecards, reports, visualizations, and analytical solutions.
  • Support predictive analytics and forecast modeling.
  • Enable operational planning and performance management.
• Knowledge Transfer
  • Deliver technical documentation.
  • Conduct training sessions.
  • Transfer knowledge to designated SMUD personnel.

Discovery and Requirements Analysis

The Contractor shall:

• Review existing source systems, spreadsheets, databases, reports, and documentation.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews and requirements workshops.
• Assess data quality and business rules.
• Identify reporting, analytics, and forecasting requirements.
• Produce a source system inventory and current-state assessment.
• Recommend implementation and integration approaches.

Deliverable

• Discovery and Requirements Assessment Report

Data Architecture and Database Design

The Contractor shall:

• Design the target SQL Server architecture.
• Develop logical and physical data models.
• Define tables, relationships, joins, keys, indexes, and constraints.
• Establish metadata standards and naming conventions.
• Design raw, staging, curated, reference, and reporting layers as appropriate.

Deliverables

• Logical Data Model
• Physical Data Model
• Database Design Documentation

Data Loading and Integration

The Contractor shall:

• Load historical VM data and reference data into VMD.
• Cleanse, standardize, and transform source data.
• Validate data quality and completeness.
• Establish repeatable update processes.
• Implement secure methods for accessing external data sources without permanent storage when feasible.

Deliverables

• Data Migration Plan
• Data Load Scripts
• Data Validation Report

Business User Data Maintenance

The Contractor shall:

• • • Design secure methods for approved business users to update data.
    • Provide low-code or no-code maintenance solutions.
    • Implement validation rules and error handling.
    • Maintain audit trails.
    • Enforce role-based security.

Deliverables:

• • • Data Maintenance Solution
    • User Procedures
    • Security Design Documentation

Reporting, Dashboards, Analytics, and Forecasting

The Contractor shall develop reporting and analytical solutions supporting the enhancement requests identified in Attachment A.

Services may include:

• • • Dashboard development
    • Executive scorecards
    • KPI reporting
    • Data visualizations
    • Forecasting models
    • Predictive analytics
    • Python-based analytical workflows
    • Query optimization and performance tuning

Deliverables

• • • Dashboards and Reports
    • Forecast Models
    • Analytical Models
    • Technical Documentation

Testing, Documentation, and Training

The Contractor shall:

• • • Develop and execute test plans.
    • Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
    • Produce technical and operational documentation.
    • Conduct training and knowledge transfer sessions.

Deliverables

• • • Test Plans and Results
    • Data Dictionary
    • Runbooks
    • Training Materials

Project Management and Implementation Support

The Contractor shall:

• • • Coordinate with VM staff and designated SMUD personnel.
    • Provide status reporting.
    • Support implementation and stabilization activities.
    • Provide post-implementation support as requested

Mandatory Skills:

1. Minimum ten (10) years of experience performing comparable services.
2. Demonstrated expertise in SQL Server database design and development.
3. Experience with data integration, reporting, analytics, and forecasting solutions.
4. Experience supporting utility, vegetation management, asset management, or similar
5. operational environments preferred

Desirable Skills:

1. All documentation shall be delivered electronically in editable formats.
2. Design documents shall include table of contents, indexes, and revision history.
3. Detailed Design Documents (DDD) shall be maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
4. Development work shall conform to SMUD data architecture standards, naming conventions, and data modeling practices.
5. Contractor personnel shall coordinate with SMUD IT and GIS staff regarding standards, integration approaches, and technical requirements.