In collaboration with Civic Marketplace and the Alliance for Innovation, TXShare—the cooperative purchasing program of the Arlington-based North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)—has awarded “the most comprehensive, competitively bid, nationally accessible AI contracts designed for local government use,” the organizations said.

Civic Marketplace said that for the first time in cooperative purchasing history, government agencies can now rapidly deploy vetted, competitively awarded AI solutions and services, covering more than 70 individual use cases, without the need for new RFPs and with built-in options for supporting small and local companies.

“In a procurement landscape increasingly saturated by cooperative contracts that seem to reward participation over discernment, the real breakthrough here isn’t just the scale—it’s the standard,” Todd Little, executive director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, said in a statement. “We received 108 bids and awarded 77 qualified suppliers. That selectivity is by design. Our AI contract catalog is a rigorously curated marketplace of highly vetted suppliers. We are making it safe, efficient and effective for your organization to be at the leading edge of citizen service using AI.”

Little, an Ellis County judge, was named executive director of NCTCOG in May, succeeding Mike Eastland as the organization’s third executive director in its 59-year history.

Harnessing AI to streamline procurement and public services

Civic Marketplace is a venture-backed technology company transforming public sector procurement through cutting-edge innovation.

The two multi-awardee contracts available on Civic Marketplace cover AI Solutions and AI Consultancy and enable access to competitively bid, fully compliant AI tools and services handpicked for their quality, security, and alignment with civic values, Civic Marketplace said.

These contracts streamline procurement processes and reduce pressure on internal teams by removing the need to craft AI-specific RFPs, vet suppliers, and evaluate complex AI offerings, Civic Marketplace said. With strong representation of innovative startups and small businesses and 96% of suppliers with a national presence, agencies can support local economies while accessing cutting-edge AI and driving local economic impact.

“These contracts represent the start of a new era for local government procurement,” Little said. “The potential for AI to transform the delivery of public services is enormous. It is an opportunity to drive costs down while increasing value for residents, but the lift to procure responsibly in an extremely complex and fast-moving market can be overwhelming for agencies. These contracts, now available nationwide through Civic Marketplace, equip agencies with the tools for transformation and empower them to embrace a new era of innovation.”

Helping local governments begin their AI journeys

AI Consultancy provides expert services for AI strategy development, roadmap planning, feasibility studies, and training, with 35 awardees. The AI Solutions contract covers the deployment, integration, and ongoing support of AI technologies across various government functions, including critical areas like cybersecurity, with 42 awardees.

“Speaking to local government teams across the country, we know there’s massive interest in how AI can be used to deliver better, more cost-effective public services. But knowing how to get started is a real challenge,” Ron Holifield, co-founder and president of Civic Marketplace, said in a statement. “Civic Marketplace exists to help agencies overcome these obstacles by removing the traditional barriers that slow innovation.”

Holifield said the contracts can help agencies begin their AI journeys.

“We’re proud to have partnered with TXShare on these contracts, which will enable agencies to take their first steps into the AI-powered future with confidence. And by championing small and local businesses with these contracts, we’re not just fostering a more dynamic marketplace, we are directly contributing to stronger local economies as well,” Holifield said.

‘A win for trust, speed, and impact’

Parth Shah, CEO and co-founder of New York City-based software developer Polimorphic, said the new approach gives governments options.

“Local governments shouldn’t have to choose between compliance and innovation,” Shah said in a statement. “With this partnership, they get both. We’re using AI to streamline government workflows and communications, making resident services faster, more intuitive, and fully auditable. It’s civic tech that actually works for the public.”

Mary Frances Coryell, chief revenue officer of Citibot, said the program improves procurement.

“Every contract awarded is a promise to the public,” she added. “This partnership ensures that promise is kept—with tools that make procurement more responsive, transparent, and aligned with what residents actually need. It’s a win for trust, speed, and impact.”

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