diff --git a/.github/scripts/make_debian.sh b/.github/scripts/make_debian.sh
index dd8bdf21a..53ba5c270 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/make_debian.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/make_debian.sh
@@ -4,13 +4,17 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
 
-if [ -z "$GITHUB_REF" ]; then
+# If a release version is provided via workflow_dispatch, use it
+if [ -n "$RELEASE_VERSION" ]; then
+    VERSION="$RELEASE_VERSION"
+elif [ -z "$GITHUB_REF" ]; then
     git config --global --add safe.directory "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"
     VERSION=$(git describe)
 else
     VERSION=$(echo "$GITHUB_REF" | sed 's|refs/tags/||')
 fi
 
+echo "Building Debian package with version: $VERSION"
 
 write_unit_template()
 {
@@ -96,10 +100,12 @@ run_fpm()
 }
 
 # install fpm
-sudo apt update
-sudo apt install --yes ruby
-sudo gem install rchardet -v 1.8.0
-sudo gem install fpm -v 1.14.2 # current as of 2022-11-08
+apt update
+apt install --yes ruby
+gem install public_suffix -v 5.1.1
+gem install rchardet -v 1.8.0
+gem install dotenv -v 2.8.1
+gem install fpm -v 1.14.2 # current as of 2022-11-08
 echo "ruby deps installed" 
 
 for config_path in $( find . -name 'settings-template.toml' )
@@ -122,4 +128,4 @@ do
          -F "package[distro_version_id]=210" \
          -F "package[package_file]=@$deb" \
          https://packagecloud.io/api/v1/repos/helium/oracles/packages.json
-done
+done
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yml b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
index 988c6a22e..d777770f0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@ on:
   push:
     branches: ["main"]
     tags: ["*"]
-
+  workflow_dispatch:  # Allows manual triggering
+    inputs:
+      release_version:
+        description: "Release Version (e.g., 1.0.0)"
+        required: true
+        type: string
 env:
   CARGO_INCREMENTAL: 0 # this setting is automatically applied by rust-cache but documented here for explicitness
   CARGO_NET_RETRY: 10
@@ -15,13 +20,23 @@ env:
   RUSTUP_MAX_RETRIES: 10
 
 jobs:
-
   build:
-    runs-on: oracles-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     concurrency: 
       group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}-build
       cancel-in-progress: true
     steps:
+      - name: Free Up Disk Space
+        run: |
+          echo "Freeing up disk space..."
+          echo "Disk space before cleanup:"
+          df -h
+          sudo apt-get clean
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/android /usr/lib/jvm /usr/local/share/boost /opt/hostedtoolcache
+          docker system prune -a -f
+          echo "Disk space after cleanup:"
+          df -h
+
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -48,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
         run: cargo build --all --tests 
 
   fmt:
-    runs-on: oracles-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     concurrency: 
       group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}-fmt
       cancel-in-progress: true
@@ -65,7 +80,7 @@ jobs:
         run: cargo fmt  -- --check
 
   clippy:
-    runs-on: oracles-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     concurrency: 
       group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}-clippy
       cancel-in-progress: true
@@ -88,7 +103,7 @@ jobs:
 
   tests-postgres:
     needs: build
-    runs-on: oracles-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -138,7 +153,7 @@ jobs:
   
   tests:
     needs: build
-    runs-on: oracles-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -174,12 +189,28 @@ jobs:
 
   build-release:
     needs: [fmt, clippy, tests, tests-postgres]
-    runs-on: oracles-20.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    container:
+      image: ubuntu:20.04
     concurrency:
       group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}-build-release
       cancel-in-progress: true
-    if: contains(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+    if: > 
+      (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch') || (contains(github.ref, 'refs/tags/'))
     steps:
+      - name: Show Inputs
+        run: |
+          echo "Release Version: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_version }}"
+
+      - name: Install Dependencies
+        run: |
+          export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+          apt-get update
+          apt-get install -y tzdata
+          ln -fs /usr/share/zoneinfo/UTC /etc/localtime
+          dpkg-reconfigure -f noninteractive tzdata
+          apt-get install -y curl build-essential pkg-config libssl-dev unzip
+
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
@@ -189,6 +220,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
+      # TODO: update key when we retire 20.04
       - name: Cache
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
@@ -198,7 +230,7 @@ jobs:
             ~/.cargo/registry/cache/
             ~/.cargo/git/db/
             target/
-          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
+          key: ubuntu-20.04-cargo-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
 
       - name: Build Release
         run: cargo build --all --release
@@ -206,6 +238,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Debian packaging
         env:
           PACKAGECLOUD_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.PACKAGECLOUD_API_KEY }}
+          RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_version }}
         run: |
           chmod +x ./.github/scripts/make_debian.sh
-          ./.github/scripts/make_debian.sh
+          ./.github/scripts/make_debian.sh
\ No newline at end of file