The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Information Technology Division (ITD), held a Bidders' Teleconference yesterday for their Web Content Management project for Mass.gov (INPUT Opportunity 58875). The Commonwealth is looking to replace the legacy tools currently used to support the web content management and delivery environment currently hosted on mass.gov. The Commonwealth plans to approach the solution in two phases. The first phase consists of Proof of Concept (POC) demonstrations provided by up to three vendors, and the second phase will consist of the configuration and implementation of the new Content Management System.

The teleconference acted as an open forum for interested vendors to pose their questions to ITD. Many questions came up regarding the requirement for all vendors submitting bids to use the current software vehicles the Commonwealth has in place. The two contracts in question are ITS14 and ITS19 naming Dell, SHI and Oracle as the software providers for the Commonwealth. The Bidders conference clarified that vendors interested in submitting bids for a content management solution must treat vendors on these vehicles as resellers when submitting proposals. An additional question in regards to the current state software contracts concerned a request for an extended deadline for the web content management solution due to the fact that one of the current contracts was recently recompeted and suppliers may be subject to change (INPUT Opportunity 60768). However, the Commonwealth reiterated they must adhere to a strict time table with the content management project because funds must be expended by the end of the current fiscal year.

Additional questions raised concerned whether or not the Commonwealth would request implementation services off of their ITS33 contract (INPUT Opportunity 40795). The Commonwealth confirmed all migration and implementation services will be performed in-house. A question was asked whether or not the Commonwealth would prefer cloud installation and cloud hosting services, to which the reply was that there was no preference at this time. However, though plans are to currently host the solution within their own data center, the Commonwealth is interested in seeing what cloud options vendors may provide.

The Commonwealth plans to address any questions not answered during the teleconference via a solicitation amendment that will be posted to Comm-Pass. Proposals for the Web Content Management solution are due March 18, 2010.

Day Two of GOVERNING's Outlook in the States and Localities began with murmurs from participants echoing in ballroom at the National Press Club, as they hoped the states' outlook would be less dreary than the previous day. However, as the first panel of speakers began, the dark cloud that hung over the room on Day One, had indeed returned.

The first panel of the day discussed state issues, priorities and politics. Speakers for the panel included David Adkins, Executive Director of the Council of State Governments (CSG); William Pound, Executive Director of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL); and Ray Scheppach, Executive Director of the National Governors Association (NGA).

Ray Scheppach was the first bearer of apparent bad news as he described what he called a "lost decade" and his prediction that it would be 2012 and 2013 before states will begin to see the same revenue numbers that were seen in 2008. While Scheppach praised the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and the flexibility it allowed for state spending, he explained how states are still acting in survival mode as they work fervently to make the most out of the little resources they have. Scheppach highlighted three big issues that will largely shape the outlook of the states for 2010: healthcare reform, some form of a jobs bill, and President Obama's recent recommended budget. William Pound began by highlighting numbers, specifically the budget shortfalls seen in 2009 and those already seen in 2010. Pound pointed out that this trend will continue as stimulus funds – which currently make up approximately 20% of a state's budget – are suspended. Pound predicts that the Federal government's action or inaction will largely shape the future outlook of the states such as healthcare reform and whether or not it will alleviate the current Medicaid burden for which states are responsible. David Adkins alleviated some of the doom and gloom atmosphere by opening with a quote from Woody Allen in which two paths – one to despair and utter hopelessness, and the other to total distinction – depict the current choices states are now faced with. However, despite Adkins' comical, yet negative opening, he offered some hopeful discussion as he pointed out the opportunity that has arisen from our current dire economic environment. State leaders will be forced into adaptive leadership. Common practices and where funds are spent will have to be readdressed in order to produce the same services at a lower cost. Adkins concluded his portion of the panel by pointing out that in US history the nation has endured thirty economic recoveries; there still is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The second panel of the day, covering 2010 revenue and spending consisted of panelists, Sujit CanagaRetna, Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Council of State Governments (CSG); Scott Pattison, Executive Director of the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO); and Ron Snell, Director of the State Services Division at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Pattison began the panel's discussion by introducing the concept of a New Normal. In terms of state revenue and spending, a New Normal defines a projected slower increase in growth. Pattison pointed out that already 36 FY2010 state budgets have been cut with the possibility for future cuts. According to Pattison, Medicaid and education take up approximately 62% of a state's general fund budget. Ron Snell reported that 40 states predict to see lower revenues for FY2010 compared to FY2009. In a survey of state legislative state fiscal offices, the majority of responding states do not foresee a return to peak revenue collections until the years 2012 and 2013. Snell cautioned that once ARRA funds cease, states will face a cliff when it comes to funding. States will have to reevaluate their spending in order to continue to function normally. Sujit CanagaRetna discussed programs that states are likely to see a surge in expenditures, with a specific case study on Unemployment Insurance. CanagaRetna also cautioned that despite a decrease in revenue, states are likely to see surging expenditures in other major areas such as healthcare, education, and public pensions.

Following the Revenue and Spending panel, three issue panels covering Technology Trends, Health Reform, and the Census 2010 took place. In the Technology Trends issue panel, speakers included Steve Fletcher, Chief Information Officer of Utah; Bert Jarreau, Chief Information Officer of the National Association of Counties; Doug Robinson, Executive Director of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO); and Bill Schrier, Chief Technology Officer of Seattle.

Steve Fletcher kicked off discussion in the Technology Trends panel as he initiated discussion of a common term used throughout the session: consolidation. According to Fletcher, government needs to be perceived more like a business in the current economic environment. In order to enable government services, business processes must be reevaluated and redesigned. Fletcher spoke of opportunities in enterprise technology and cloud computing that could help engage state governments. Doug Robinson echoed the sentiments of Fletcher in regards to consolidation, but also emphasized collaboration, and the possibility for regional clouds. Bert Jarreau and Bill Schrier however discussed the possible inefficiencies of consolidation efforts. Schrier spoke from personal experience when he brought up the possibility of failure, and Jarreau pointed out that while the technical aspect of consolidation may not be difficult, the collaboration of people and local entities can be difficult. Schrier and Jarreau emphasized broadband technology as the key to transformational government. According to Schrier, broadband enables citizens to aid state and local government in the provision of some services. When asked what the upcoming FCC Broadband Plan should include, answers from the four panelists included better overall service, access to rural areas, wireless as well as fiber needs to be addressed, and some sort of adoption strategy needs to be addressed. Other technological innovations were discussed, such as the idea of a virtual, mobile workforce. Though advocates of a virtual workforce, the panelists pointed out impediments state and local governments endure such as a bleak public perception.

The Keynote Speech, delivered by Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-Founder of Moody's Economy.com, followed the issue panels. In his speech, Zandi walked through the recession from its beginning in December 2007 to its recovery in August 2009. Zandi attributed the end of the recession to ARRA, claiming that the recession officially ended once ARRA funds began to trickle downward to the state and local level. Though the recession is officially over, Zandi does not foresee a full recovery anytime soon. While layoffs are abating, companies are still not hiring largely due to a lack of confidence in the economy and policy uncertainty. Housing foreclosures are still rising, while revenue is still decreasing. According to Zandi, policy-makers need to remain aggressive and work diligently to get something solidified in order for the precursors to self-sustaining growth to begin. Zandi provided a timeline in which he predicted self-sustaining growth will begin in Q1 of 2011, however fiscal pressure will intensify by Q4 of 2011 due to the rising debt to GDP ratio, which according to Zandi, the President's recent recommended budget only worsens.

Following the Keynote Speech, issue panels were once again offered, this time in energy, tax, and transportation. In the Energy Outlook panel, speakers consisted of Jeb Brugmann, Interim Executive Director of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability; Mandy Mahoney, Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta; and Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of the Energy Programs Consortium. Panelists discussed the growing trend of energy efficiency and key initiatives taking place at the state and local level. Unfortunately, because the trend is still new, there is a huge gap between those states and localities that have advanced in energy efficiency, and those that are still searching for a definition. Panelists agreed that ARRA has helped by providing funding for specific programs, and increasing support. Mark Wolfe discussed how selling energy efficiency still remains difficult, however upgrades to software tools that track and measure energy consumption could benefit the effort.

The final panel of the event consisted of Alan Ehrenhalt, Former Executive Editor of GOVERNING; Josh Goodman, Staff Writer for GOVERNING; and Charlie Mahtesian, National Politics Editor of Politico discussing the political races to watch this fall. As previous speakers already pointed out earlier in the day, 36 governors are up for reelection this fall, which could have a tremendous effect on state and local government for the upcoming years. Panelists agreed that Florida's race will act as a weather vane for other states, and to watch states with unelected governors – such as New York and Arizona – for their outcomes will likely be interesting.

At the conclusion of GOVERNING's Outlook in the States and Localities 2010, it became evident that the upcoming year will hold its fair share of hurdles for state and local government. However, if leaders can adapt and work toward transforming processes, state and local government may be able to bear the long road ahead with few scrapes and bruises.

GOVERNING magazine held its annual Outlook in the States and Localities conference on February 2-3, 2010. The conference, which took place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. brought together both the public and private sectors as a thorough outlook of what is to come in 2010 was provided by a series of guest speakers who covered everything from the fiscal forecast to political races to watch. As a proponent of shared ideas and expert insight into the state and local arena, GOVERNING's 2010 Outlook, though bleak, still offered a plethora of opportunity for all industries working within current economic boundaries.

Day One of the conference began with City and County Concerns amidst a post-stimulus reality. Speakers for the first panel included Don Borut, Executive Director of the National League of Cities; Chris Hoene, Research Director of the National League of Cities; Larry Naake, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties; with moderator, e.Republic's Todd Sander.

A bleak picture was painted as localities were described by Chris Hoene to be heading into the eye of the storm. Hoene expanded his metaphor as he discussed the current budget shortfalls states and localities are facing and their remedies thus far which include layoffs and furloughs, the delay or cancellation of major projects, and even a revisiting of employee pensions and benefits. Hoene called for the need of transformational government, which Don Borut echoed as he discussed stimulus funds, and though helpful as they have been for states and localities, are scheduled to run out leaving local government entities to alleviate their own tension. Borut proposed a transformational government in which localities consolidate functionality and even the possibility of down-sizing and allowing citizens to take over functions governments once provided. The sole county representative on the panel, Larry Naake agreed with both Hoene and Borut's transformational ideas and highlighted issues like healthcare reform and immigration reform that must be addressed at the Federal level in order to alleviate the burden on counties. All three gentlemen, though pointing out a rather morbid time frame – anywhere from two to five years – for local recovery, concluded that in the midst of a tumultuous storm, opportunity can be found in the local governments' need to innovate and continue to provide their services with fewer resources.

Following City and County Concerns, was the Local Leadership Forum. Headlining the Forum were leaders Jon Dickinson, a Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor Bloomberg's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability in New York City; Bill Schrier, Seattle's Chief Technology Officer; David Smith, County Manager of Maricopa County in Arizona; A.C. Wharton, Mayor of the City of Memphis; with Todd Sander once again as acting moderator.

Unlike the daunting concerns of the city and county panel before them, the leaders in the leadership forum took the opportunity to discuss current innovative initiatives taking place in their home localities, as well as providing their stance on the state and local environment. The leaders stressed the need for local governments to seize the opportunity found within the present crisis. Transformation was once again the word of the hour as the leaders shared their views on the need for government to reevaluate the services they currently provide and develop new methods of providing those services with reduced means. Mayor Wharton stressed that though it will be a good two to five years before states and localities are free of the burden of recession, localities should still plan and function as though recovery may arrive sooner. Bill Schrier took the opportunity of the forum to share his idea as to how a local government can perform the same services at limited cost: broadband. According to Schrier, advancing and expanding the sharing of information is the key for increased functionality in government as it opens doorways for constituents to provide the possible tools and information for government to run efficiently.

Following the Leadership Forum, conference participants were invited to join one of four roundtable discussions in the areas of Fiscal Forecast, Technology Trends, Sustainability Challenges, and Regional Initiatives. Within the Technology Trends Roundtable, led by Seattle Chief Technology Officer, Bill Schrier, participants were asked to provide a technological government need, as well as an innovation. Themes were revisited as participants discussed the need for government to consolidate in order to increase functionality and efficiency. Innovative remedies that were mentioned include business intelligence and project management tools, enterprise technology tools, and the more recent trend of cloud computing. Another innovative practice that was brought up in the Roundtable consisted of the notion of larger shared services, such as a Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) shared amongst multiple states.

As the first day of GOVERNING's Outlook drew to a close, it appeared the only ray of sunshine in the murky 2010 forecast is the notion of transformation, from which opportunity may arise.

Last week,at the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Policy Forum and Training Conference, the final Session highlighted proposed ideas and directions for child support enforcement (CSE) for the upcoming year to facilitate improved services. Nancy Thoma Groetken, Regional Program Manager for the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), revealed that modifications had been made towards objectives and that CSE would be more integrated, with the new strategies. A major component of the change involves expansion of the program along with the vision and mission. The strategies are expected to flow from OCSE's new mission: to enhance the well-being of children, and secure avenues in obtaining support for children, including financial and medical. Groetken made sure to point out that the program's mission, are still tentative, and could change as a result of federal health insurance and TANF Reauthorization legislation.

Collaboration was highly touted throughout the Policy Forum, and as a result, came as no surprise when incorporated in the strategic plan. The technique is for agencies to essentially combine services and resources as a way to enhance the quality of services and strengthen families. Particularly, since child support departments overlap with other agencies such as Employment, and Health, it only seems practical to join forces and share knowledge since a lot of their customers are the same. Pam McKee, Planning and Evaluation Manager of the Michigan Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support (DHS/OCS) shared how her department collaborated with their state's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The agencies have several initiatives they all work on jointly, and utilize a "just in time" attitude, as McKee described. Michigan received a Special Improvement Project (SIP) grant which they used to develop a shared data view system with their Medicaid agency. The system developed cleanup reports that they were able to share amongst their counties. McKee stated that the state does not want to stop there, and will continue to make more efforts towards improving agency collaboration.

Other plans stressed for the future of CSE included the delivery of timely, clear and accessible services adapted to customer needs and circumstances. The use of electronic payment options was also highlighted, in addition to the idea that technology is essential in streamlining many CSE processes. Early intervention and proactive case management was also part of the future strategies including easier access to genetic testing for parents of kids born out of wedlock, and the design of case management tools and programs to ensure regular, consistent payments. Automation was also suggested as a way to manage case-closure effectively. Another interesting factor brought up, was the issue with currency exchange and electronic payments from state to state, and intricacies that ensue. Moreover, this would also be used when responding to cases on an international level as well.

Furthermore, with the new focus on cost-effectiveness and other performance measures to determine how well child support agencies are doing, technology is a key player for the future of CSE. Vendors should explore ways in which technology can be used to enhance the child support program's infrastructure that satisfy the CSE future goals and vision. With that being said, systems must be designed that guarantee efficiency, accountability, and quality case management in order to effectively assess performance and increase funding for further CSE initiatives.

The technique of using performance measures as a way to assess the quality in various child support programs and assist in levels of funding was another major topic examined in the 2010 National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Policy Forum and Training Conference. It was argued that much of the child support enforcement (CSE) expenditure was not going towards cost-effective measures. The idea was that more support would be seen on the state and local level if more incentives were available. Performance measures would essentially be a way to provide evidence of the quality of work being done within these programs. David Stillman, IV-D Director of the Washington Division of Child Support, supported the idea stating that CSE should be a cost-effectiveness ratio exercised by child support workers. He emphasized the importance of CSE in families and how there should be a reflection of the impact. The idea of performance measures seemed to be a widely accepted theme in the conference even amongst tribal communities. Carleen Anderson, Council Member of the Colville Tribes stated that tribes are more than willing and happy to agree to performance measures. Her only was concern was that decision makers would be mindful and cognizant, in their evaluation, of their unique environment in which they do business, since it significantly differs from that of a state.

Performance could be evaluated in a variety of ways such as the outcomes of child support prevention programs, as seen in ones such as the Parenting and Paternity Awareness Program (PAPA) executed in Texas. Other performance measures could be evaluated with the help of technology. Many states are reconsidering the ways in which data from CSE is being incorporated into their systems, and making upgrades and modernizations accordingly. For example, Pam McKee, Planning and Evaluation Manager of the Michigan Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support (DHS/OCS), revealed a few technology challenges her state had overcome. She stated that recent system changes enabled streamlining of medical support, payment process screens and data exchanges. McKee also revealed that her state's shared agency data view system, developed for cleanup reports, is currently experiencing technical problems and is being considered for revisions.

A representative from New York, Lee Sapienza, Chief of Policy, Planning and Data Analysis shared information about their state's IV-D system that interfaced with Medicaid and the (IV-D) program. The state had experienced problems with the system, including cases where there were no distinguishing codes for Medicaid services, which led to an influx of broad-ranged referrals. A system was then developed, that aligned more with the characteristic codes, in which numbers are run on a nightly basis. The system also assists in notifying the Medicaid program when they get private health insurance in Medicaid-related cases, in which Medicaid does additional matching. Sapienza stated that the state may make more upgrades to the system that will incorporate an interface that includes federal notifications as well.

Kim Newsom Bridges, Executive Director for the Ohio CSEA Director's Association, shared how Ohio had recommendations in July 2008, for improving their CSE system that would get their software up to speed. Bridges stated that the state was doing a fairly good job of getting their child support program into the implementation stage and that the main motivation for making the revisions, and as quickly as possible, was to reach cost-effective solutions and alleviate financial challenges.

Other initiatives to increase efficiencies, discussed in the Policy Forum included the idea that there must be a more uniform process for processing clients and managing cases, and essentially the development of a simplifies system across the state. States seemed to uphold these ideas including San Diego California, who just received a lot of stimulus funds, and plans to move to an electronic interface between TANF and CSE. Further, Louisiana plans on building out an interface that will utilize data-driven decisions and facilitate capacity in their CSE caseloads.

The 2010 National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Policy Forum and Training Conference, was held January 25-27, 2010 in Washington, DC. NCSEA serves child support professionals, agencies, and strategic partners worldwide through professional development, communications, public awareness, and advocacy to enhance the financial, medical, and emotional support that parents provide for their children. The Policy Forum and Training Conference held annually, is a way for the child support community and partners to come together and discuss major issues in Congress and new ways of practice implemented throughout the nation. The theme of the Policy Forum this year was, "The Changing Faces of Families".

The main focus of the conference revolved around shifting the Child Support Program's (CSP) vision, towards avenues such as prevention, agency-collaboration and advancements in technology. The Conference brought in professionals and representatives from each state with varying subject matter expertise. The Conference consisted of seven Plenarys where a panel of representatives shared insight on various issues from policy changes affecting the Child Support Program to collaboration and implementation strategies states should be taking into consideration.

The Conference began with a general overview of child support, highlighting current issues. Much attention was paid to the verity that the spotlight must ultimately be placed on the child. Emphasis went towards the importance of child support in low-income custodial families and the reality of CSE reaching more people when compared to any other program. The first plenary also spoke about what the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Reauthorization would mean for CSE. Funding seemed to be a key concern for CSE, in which having enough money to execute the bill was a burning matter. Attention was given on the need for improvement with TANF, a program in dire need of increased funds. Surprisingly enough, funding for TANF has not increased since 1996, and states have responded to this by holding on to funds in order to prolong its use. The lack of funding provided through TANF disallows execution of programs designated for training and education. The Plenary went on further to talk about how TANF must be the entry point for parents to access jobs, trainings, and strategies, and how techniques must be explored to align program goals.

Yvette Riddick, Deputy Director from the Division of Policy for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement, (DHHS/ACF/OSCE) stated the mission of the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) was to locate parents, establish paternity and enforce orders. OCSE serves as a gateway to these services for 1 in 4 kids in the country.

Riddick highlighted Six Domains that must be considered in the improvement CSE:

1. Prevention
2. Engagement of Fathers from Birth
3. Economic Stability Strategies
4. Health Family Relations
5. Healthcare Coverage
6. Family Violence Collaboration

Other issues on OSCE's radar for 2010 included termination of the $25 Child Support Collection fee, deeming it unfair, and the costs of births under the Medicaid Program.

Throughout 2010 states will continue to expand use of technology to support social services programs, given budget constraints are forcing the need to deliver services with lower operational expenses. Whether agencies are seeking to determine eligibility or delivering services for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Care, Child Support ,and/or Child Welfare, state leaders are actively and aggressively restructuring their business processes. Widespread unemployment has strained legacy Unemployment Compensation systems , creating the need for system redesigns in some states and even giving rise in some regions to consider new approaches, such as cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions.

Continued expansion and sophistication of calls centers enables governments to lower costs in the delivery of human services. While some social workers continue to operate in state and county offices meeting with applicants face-to-face, a growing number of workers are providing support in a call center environment, reaching a wider array of citizens throughout the state. Doing more with less has been a resounding theme throughout government and more pervasive use of technology is a driving force for agency leaders to meet increasing demands for services. Just as critical as lowering operation costs, states must adhere to required federal and state legislated guidelines for programs. These requirements often led agencies at the helm of human service programs to institute more fraud detection and management systems for the purpose of identifying erroneous claims and payments. As Information Technology (IT) leaders plan system modernizations, they often engage consultants to provide expertise before embarking upon major changes, a critical step to avoid disasters. Many agencies utilize state contracts for professional services when sourcing consultants.

Social Service projects throughout 2010 include:

• California Child Support Maintenance and Operations RFP anticipated February/March – Estimated contract value $72 million

  California's Department of Child Support Services needs technical support services for system operations, application maintenance, and IT support with fully integrated state/contractor technical teams. A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Child Support Enforcement System (CSE) Maintenance and Operations Services will include requirements for automated services to approximately 10,000 users statewide, collecting and disbursing more than $2.3 billion annually in child support payments.

• Florida – Unemployment Compensation Modernization

  RFP anticipated February - Estimated contract value $68 million

  Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) will release a RFP for development of a web-enabled, integrated information system to support Florida's workforce. A Request for Information (RFI) was released in October 2009 and the state is currently evaluating feedback from participating vendors. The project includes development of a web-enabled, integrated information system to provided unemployment services. Deployment of the system will require strong interconnectivity with multiple agency environments and systems maintained by the AWI in addition to managing eligibility functionality.

• Oregon – Human Services Modernization RFP anticipated February/March - Estimated contract value $30 million

  Plans for major changes are underway for the Children Adults and Families Self Sufficiency Modernization Program (CAF-SSM), managed by the Oregon Department of Human Services. Key areas of development in the program include: the rollout of consolidated online eligibility estimators, automation of eligibility determination for Medicaid medical care and consolidation of the caseworker service portal. Much of the project will include planning and design of a unified Self Sufficiency Case Management system which requires development of a self sufficiency data warehouse.

• Pennsylvania – IT Services Strategic Business Systems RFP anticipated March - Estimated contract value $30 million

  The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) released a Draft RFP for IT Services for DPW's Strategic Business Systems in October 2009. This solicitation followed the RFI the state issued in March 2009. The agency is seeking a vendor to provide "top-tier" support and management assistance in the planning IT needs and to assume responsibility for managing the maintenance and operations of the systems included in the scope of this RFP.

• Washington State Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) RFP anticipated March/April - Estimated contract value $20 million

  The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently completed a feasibility study for the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) System. The Department is now engaged in completing an Advanced Planning Document for the initiative.

• New Jersey– WIC Statewide Client Service System RFP anticipated March/April - Estimated contract value $5 million

  New Jersey currently has a contract with CMA Consulting for Women, Infant and Children (WIC) for their Automated Client Centered Electronic Service System (ACCESS), which expires on May 31, 2010. ACCESS has reportedly reached the end of its useful product lifecycle and the state has submitted an Advanced Planning Document (APD) to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A RFP is being developed and is anticipated for release in 2010.

• Texas – Workers Compensation System RFP anticipated February/March - Estimated contract value $10 million

  The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) is planning to migrate a legacy system to a new platform. A RFI was released in March 2009 specifying requirements that replacement systems will need to be compatible with its existing web-based technology platform and the primary focus of the effort is to drive efficiency for users of the compensation system. The project requires development of web-enabled applications for use by staff and external system participants. System modules will need to be rewritten in programming languages compatible with web-development tools and existing database architectures.

• North Carolina – Families Accessing Services – IV&V

  RFP anticipated March/April - Estimated contract value $ 4 million

  North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services released a Request for Proposals for the NC Families Accessing Services through Technology, (NC FAST Case Management Solution )integration project and proposals will be submitted February 1, 2010 (Opportunity #52354). The Independent Verification and Validation Services (IV&V) for NC FAST will be needed to support and validate case management processes for case managers and workers in the county social services departments. The project will include software performance testing and quality assurance.

• Wisconsin – Automated Child Care Attendance Tracking System RFP anticipated March/April - Estimated contract value $ 4 million

  Planning is underway with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), Division of Enterprise Solutions, for an Automated Child Care Attendance Tracking System. The state plans to release a RFP after all system requirements are established and funding is finalized. In addition to automated attendance reporting, the agency is interested in linking automated payments to child care providers with a real-time attendance system, and to other cash payment systems such as Food Share, Child Support, or TANF benefits. A solution could likely incorporate payments into a single "smart card" system.

Vice President Joseph Biden announced the first wave of broadband stimulus awards on December 17, 2009. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, approximately $183 million of the $7.2 billion program through the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will be allocated to broadband projects in 17 states. Four different kinds of awards were made last week: Middle Mile Awards, which are used to build and improve connections in communities lacking sufficient broadband access; Last Mile Awards, which are used to connect end users such as homes, schools, hospitals, etc. to a broadband infrastructure; Public Computing Awards, which are used to expand computer center services for public use in locations such as public libraries and community colleges; Sustainable Adoption Awards, which are used to promote broadband accessibility to populations where the service has been historically underutilized.

Middle Mile Awards were made in Georgia, Maine, New York and South Dakota. Public Computing Awards were made in Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington. Sustainable Adoption Awards were made in New Mexico and Washington. Last Mile and Middle Mile awards were made in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Oklahoma. To see how funding was appropriated to state programs, please see the White House press release.

On December 22, 2009, NTIA announced awards for broadband mapping and planning activities in 15 states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee. Funding from these awards will be utilized by the states to collect data and perform broadband planning in order to better increase broadband access and adoption.

On the state and local level, vendors will begin to see broadband projects start to roll out in the early months of 2010. Funding from the awards announced last week will begin to be disbursed within the next 75 days for their designated projects and states will need to act quickly to maintain all deadlines associated with grant funds are met. It would behoove vendors to prepare all hands on deck, to not only assist states that have already received awards, but to be able to act swiftly with the remaining awards, which are sure to come out within the next few months. Whether it be for mapping and planning purposes, or implementation purposes, states will call upon vendors in the upcoming months to assist them in leveraging grant awards so that they may provide quality broadband services to as much of the US population as possible.

California, known for pumping copious amounts of money towards innovation, is currently working on a $6.8 billion plan, to overhaul their state computer systems. Numerous agencies across the state are experiencing increased difficulty in the functionality of various legacy systems. The outdated features of these systems, has led to not only increased expenditure in the areas of maintenance and upgrade efforts, but intricacies in money management as well. The slow-nature and lack of integrated databases, is perpetuating complications in financial decision-making. It has been reported that several replacement projects have been delayed or completely terminated due to competency issues.

There are several systems that are in dire need of replacement. For that, vendors are positioned at an opportune place in respect of upcoming request for services. According to officials, California's 1970 legacy workforce system is in danger of failing. The system is so old that state employees are unable to obtain electronic statements of their payroll history. A project known as the, 21st Century Project, and worth $130 million was supposed to have launched two years ago, but has been hindered by a lawsuit with the contractor. State Legislature is now considering termination of the project, and completely starting from fresh, however is hesitant due to the burden that may be placed on taxpayers as result. A project aimed at integrating state budget and accounting databases across agencies has also taken a backseat, as reported by the state Finance Department.

In 2008, California faced a $987.8 million penalty from the federal government due to failure in completing their Child Support Payment System on time. The project cost the state $1.5 billion, yet California still holds a collection rate of only 53.1%, according to the federal government. The state's child support database is expected to be part of the $6.8 billion plan. According to former Chief Information Officer, John Thomas Quinn, state bureaucrats show a continuous pattern of awarding contractors vowing to satisfy state requests and for the lowest price. Quinn exemplified how this often leads to a higher need of funding for projects, in the end.

California has recently received $60 million in stimulus funding, in which $20 million is expected to go towards a much needed upgrade to their Unemployment Benefits System. Though the 23-year old legacy system was expected to be completed last year from federal funding the state received seven years ago, the state will not face any sanctions from the federal government. INPUT is currently tracking the Unemployment modernization project here.

Back in September, I blogged about Senate Bill 1694 which would extend the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program through fiscal year 2012. Yesterday, the House passed the extension act unanimously 420-0, enabling the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) to extend their deadline for releasing funding to public safety agencies across the country.

This bill's passage is significant in that public safety agencies that were in the process of developing public safety communications systems can continue undeterred. At a time when states, counties and cities are slashing items from their budget, any additional funding sources are not just helpful, they are a necessity.

While the PSIC program strives, it stands to reason that another one may suffer. This happens to be the case with regard to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2010 budget, which was approved by the Senate last week. While this year's DHS budget stands at $43 billion, a slight increase over the 2009 budget ($40 billion), the DHS has significantly decreased the funding toward REAL ID.

Since the passing of the REAL ID Act of 2005 there has been continuous controversy with regard to its implementation, funding, as well as the issue of privacy. Now, with the REAL ID funding declining from $100 million in 2009 to $60 million in 2010 (decrease of 40%), the controversy will likely heat up again, assuming that it ever cooled down. This funding decrease is just another blow to the already unpopular bill, which may be rejected by even more states that already do not have the funding to move forward with implementation. This funding cut is just the first step, as there will likely be even more debates down the road.

Next month, INPUT will be hosting a webinar on the 2009-14 Federal grant forecast. The webinar will discuss the PSIC grant program, as well as other initiatives and spending forecasts. The significance of the PSIC extension and the REAL ID cuts is that Congress seems to be willing to move forward with funding for programs such as radio interoperability, while REAL ID takes the back seat. Because of the issues associated with REAL ID and the fact that very few states are close to implementation, it makes sense to cut spending on that program until a decision is made on how to proceed. With regard to the PSIC program, state and local governments are hurting, and by extending the PSIC grant, states will be able to move forward with projects that will require new jobs, new vendors and most importantly increase the safety of citizens across the country.