INPUT Blog - Events

GOVERNING's Outlook in the States and Localities: Part 1

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:24:00 -0500

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.

What?s in Store for the OCSE?s National Child Support Enforcement 2010-2014 Strategic Plan?

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:05:00 -0500

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.

Using Performance Measures to Assess Quality in Child Support Enforcement

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:31:00 -0500

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.

Overview of the NCSEA's 2010 Policy Forum and Training Conference

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:33:00 -0500

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:

Prevention
Engagement of Fathers from Birth
Economic Stability Strategies
Health Family Relations
Healthcare Coverage
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.

State of the Union Address ? Noteworthy Themes for Government Technology Contractors

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:35:00 -0500

As president Obama put it last night during his State of the Union Address, "The worst of the storm has passed, but the devastation remains." In an attempt to re-establish America's confidence in his administration and Washington, and to put the U.S. back on the road to prosperity, Obama outlined a number of strategies to support the U.S. economy and middle class families:

Create Jobs
Implement Financial Reform
Encourage American Innovation
Increase Exports
Invest in Skills and Education
Relieve the Burden on the Middle Class
Reduce the Federal Deficit
Reform Politics
Support National Security

Most noteworthy to government technology contractors are Obama's plans to support innovation, continue to sustain national security, and reduce the federal deficit.

President Obama supports passing a Clean Energy & Climate bill that would create more clean energy jobs, build clean, safe nuclear power plants, and would increase investment in bio-fuels and clean coal technology. Efforts in the area of clean energy would continue to support companies and government contractors that have strong research, development, and technology innovation capabilities. Look for more Congressional action in this area which could result in new contracts and grants from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.

Continuing to support national defense remains a high priority for the administration. INPUT predicts continued investments in homeland security, terrorism initiatives, and defense war-fighting technologies. President Obama also renewed his commitment to support veterans and military families, which could result in technology investments related to services supporting these groups such as health care, counseling, education, and benefits systems.

However, President Obama's vow to reduce the federal deficit is likely to have the greatest impact on the government contracting community. Starting in FY2011, the president proposes a three year freeze on discretionary spending, not to include defense, homeland security, social security, or Medicare. This amounts to approximately one-sixth of the total federal budget, and the category where most government information technology investments reside. A step in the right direction, maybe, but this move does little to tackle the skyrocketing deficit.

Additionally, the president is calling for more transparency in government earmarks, and asking all of Congress to publish earmarks on-line. Even in the face of a $1.4 trillion deficit, earmarks remain alive and well in Washington. In the FY2010 Defense appropriations bill, lawmakers set aside more than $4 billion in earmarks. According to Tax Payers for Common Sense, the FY10 Omnibus bill contained more than 5,224 disclosed earmarks totaling $3.9 billion. Curbing Congressional earmarks would add to deficit trimming measures, but would likely negatively impact large defense contractors.

Unwilling to accept the Senate's blockage Tuesday of a proposal to establish a bipartisan fiscal task force, President Obama plans to issue an executive order to create such a fiscal commission. In Obama's words, "The commission will have to provide a specific set of solutions by a certain deadline." If modeled after the Senate plan, the commission will consist of the Secretary of Treasury, an officer of the executive branch, eight members of the Senate, and eight members of the House. It will have the authority to enter into contracts with federal and state agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals for the purposed of performing its duties and responsibilities. The commission will submit a bill and final report to the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of both Houses, no later than November 15, 2010.

Contractors should note that recommendations from such a commission could greatly impact federal spending and therefore contracting dollars. Vendors should monitor commission recommendations.

Lastly, President Obama's address also offered several implications for state and local governments and their contractors:

Stimulus is still ramping up and will continue to provide opportunities, especially in transportation and transit related spending.
The passage of a jobs bill would help state and local economies by creating jobs and strengthening small businesses through financing and tax credits.
Renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and expansion of its reforms to all 50 states could open the door to education related technology contracts.
Continued reforms and subsidies for the housing market will bolster state and local revenues via property value/tax increases.
Freezing discretionary spending may adversely affect non-exempt programs such as state and local grants.

INPUT will be analyzing the President's FY2011 Budget Request (expected next week) to determine how these priorities will impact budget and technology initiatives.

A Look at the Health and Social Services Market for the Month of December

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:48:00 -0500

The Health and Human Services Department started off the month of December strong by creating a new grant program to distribute $235 million to communities that can serve as models for the use of electronic health records (EHRs). Through the Beacon Communities Program, 15 communities who have demonstrated high levels of digital health record usage will be awarded $220 million, with $15 million going to technical assistance and independent evaluation services. Applications will be available in the near future, and vendors should stay aware as the grants will pay for building and strengthening health IT infrastructures and health information exchange, including privacy and security measures.

Not to be outdone, President Obama announced on December 8 the allocation of $88 million to boost electronic health record adoption as part of nearly $600 million in funding targeted at community health centers. This is part of the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package funding. These EHR funds will go to help health care organizations digitize their medical records and upgrade their technology systems. And if vendors did not already have enough money to keep track of, on December 10 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded $16 million in matching funds among six states and the US Virgin Islands to help them plan their systems and processes for the upcoming task of managing electronic health record incentive payments. This funding involves a separate American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding stream, which provides a 90 percent federal match for state planning activities. States receiving funds include

California $2.48 million
Georgia $3.17 million
Idaho $142,000
Montana $239,000
New York $5.91 million
Texas $3.86 million
US Virgin Islands $232,000

Even though the holidays filled most people's minds towards the end of December, even the last day of the month can be one of the most important. Today CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator released its 700-page plan for "meaningful use" to improve healthcare value and quality by accelerating the use of health IT by doctors and hospitals. The plan calls for tens of thousands of dollars in financial incentives for doctors and hospitals meeting three stages of progressively more demanding goals for implementing health IT in their practices. The price tag for the incentives may be lower than originally estimated, surprisingly, falling from $34 billion to as low as $14.1 billion. Stage 1 will be the evolution of meaningful use, focusing on data collection, information sharing, and reporting measures. The end of 2011 will focus on structure information exchange and continuous quality improvement while Stage 3 will focus on support for "national high priority conditions" and population health.

Even though health care seems to be the hottest vertical in the United States right now, social services does have its share of movers and shakers. The Louisiana Department of Social Services in the midst of releasing five RFPs between January and September 2010 in support of their One DSS Modernization project. INPUT previously wrote a blog earlier in the month describing the project's direction and the RFPs that will be released: Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS); Customer Service Center; Document Imaging; Common Access Front End (CAFÉ); and Quality Assurance. One DSS focuses on the need to improve service delivery to external customers, clients and providers, and largely to improve work processes and tools for staff.

California's Department of Child Support Services is hoping to release a RFP in January 2010 for the maintenance and operations (M&O) services for their Child Support Enforcement (CSE) System. The CSE application was implemented in 2005, collecting and disbursing more than $2.3 billion annually in child support payments. The anticipated term of the CSE M&O Services contract is planned to be a minimum of three years with a maximum cost of $24 million per contract year.

Hawaii is looking to centralize their Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Databases in 2011. The Department of Health released a RFP for a Project Planning Contractor to come in and conduct a feasibility study in support of an Implementation Advanced Planning Document (IAPD) for a new system. Proposals are due by January 15, 2010.

Child development will be the major focus of Vermont's Department for Children and Families through 2011. DCF released a RFP for Business Analysis surrounding their Children's Integrated Services (CIS) data management system. Proposals are due by January 20, 2010. The winning vendor will develop a RFP for the implementation of the recommended solution. INPUT estimates a release date in early 2011.

Below are some notable contract awards that occurred in December:

Michigan- The Department of Community health has contracted with First Health Services Corporation in the amount of $20.5 million for Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) Services for the Medicaid Program.

West Virginia- The Department of Health and Human Services awarded a contract for an Imaging System for the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement to Northwoods Consulting Partners. Stimulus dollars will be utilized in this project.

Idaho- In the planning and replacement of the Pension Administration System (PAS), the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) awarded the Project Oversight contract to Provaliant Inc. The RFP for the system replacement is expected to be released in July 2010 when funding is approved.

Utah- The Department of Administration awarded their Office of Recovery Services (ORS) Document Generation System to Cincom Systems Inc. ORS helps to ensure child support payments and services.

North Carolina- The Department of Health and Human Services has contracted with Health Management Systems in the amount of $3.3 million for Third Party Liability (TPL) Recoveries, Cost Avoidance, and Credit Balance Reviews.

Montana- Deloitte has been chosen as the contractor who will provide fiscal services and enterprise architecture for the Department of Public Health and Human Services' Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Eligibility System.

December brings not only the end of the year 2009, but the end of a decade. Although States faced the biggest deficits seen since the Great Depression, as evidence in this blog, enormous amounts of funding continue to flow into the health IT arena. Want to get ahead of the game? Check out INPUT's recent report "Statewide Health Information Exchanges: A $910 MM Market by 2014" or register for our upcoming webinar in January, Statewide Health Information Exchanges: ARRA Brings Transformative Opportunities to the States.

Project Executive Talks FI$CAL

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:41:00 -0500

In an interview with Technology Leadership yesterday, FI$CAL Project Executive Titus Toyama opened up on some of his thoughts regarding the project. Aside from elaborating on the project's "fit gap" model style of procurement (The fit-gap analysis will document the extent to which the contractor's proposed ERP software solution meets the needs of the state "out of the box" and where customization may be preferred. This will enable the contractors to more accurately estimate the cost, duration, and complexity of the FI$Cal implementation thereby resulting in the development of more comprehensive and lower risk proposals.), Mr. Toyama shared some of his thoughts as to why the project is so imperative for California's well being going forward. In particular, he pointed out that it is necessary to:

replace CA's legacy systems
implement new processes for managing financial systems

When asked what people should expect to see with the deployment of FI$CAL, Mr. Toyama stated that residents in CA will see more transparency in government. Addtionally, he said that FI$CAL will make CA goverment work better by being more modern and more responsive. Mr. Toyama concluded his thirty minute interview by stating that the project is fully funded for this fiscal year. He went on to say that if all goes according to plan, the RFP is anticipated to be released in mid summer 2010, and that deployment is being targeted for sometime in calendar year 2013.

City of Palo Alto Holds Pre-Proposal Conference for Smart Grid Consulting

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:53:00 -0500

The City of Palo Alto held a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference this morning for their opportunity for consulting services to develop a smart grid strategic plan for the City. The City is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to prepare a study evaluating smart grid technologies that could be cost effectively applied to the City's electric, gas, and water utilities. The City is pursuing the study to evaluate utility system improvements that will result in operational cost savings and environmental benefits to the residents and businesses in Palo Alto. The goal is to determine the smart grid applications and technologies that best meet the City's needs, determine the cost/benefits and feasibility of implementing new smart grid applications, and if an application is justified, develop an implementation plan for this application. Aside from providing time to entertain questions from vendors intending to submit proposals, the City also confirmed that proposals remain due by 3:00 PM PST on November 10th, as well as stated that the contract type will be Not to Exceed and Time and Materials.

Opportunities in Low Cost IT Domestic Sourcing

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:47:00 -0500

On Wednesday, September 30, the TechAmerica Foundation, the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Technology Council of Maryland recently presented a lunch-time event focused on sourcing IT work to lower-cost communities in the United States. Speakers included Phil Bond, President of TechAmerica, George Schindler, President of CGI Federal, and John Richardson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The two venues viewed as most viable for lower-cost domestic outsourcing are rural areas and underutilized urban areas. These sites provide several distinct advantages over offshoring. The presentations explored these advantages and provided an experienced perspective. For many years IT work has been outsourced outside of the United States, mainly driven by the relatively high cost of IT workers in the US. This has had the effect of draining jobs from the US economy and leading many IT workers to pursue other career paths. As noted by George Schindler, President of CGI Federal and speaker at the event, the US needs to preserve its own IT resources and domestic sourcing is a good way to earn them back. As Mr. Schindler also pointed out, having domestic centers improves the existing global delivery of services. Domestic sourcing need not be seen as a total replacement for all offshoring, but rather as a tool to strike a better balance between business objectives and domestic priorities, where viable. These centers bolster a firms total offering in fulfilling project specific goals while also keeping in line with the strategic goals of government. One of the big challenges in setting up a successful, low-cost, IT center in the US is selecting the right location. Amongst the ideal criteria for a good location are a balance between low cost of living and a high quality of life to attract and sustain a talented workforce. In addition, access to talent from nearby higher learning facilities, and an existing IT infrastructure or capability are integral factors in finding the right location. Last, but not least, is the alignment of state and local governments and a genuine commitment between government and industry. CGI Federal mentioned two of its success stories which found the right mix, the Center of Excellence in Southwest Virginia and recently announced Center of Excellence in Troy, Alabama. There were a surprising number and range of advantages to domestic outsourcing presented. Advantages include cost, language, time zone proximity, a highly talented workforce, avoidance of statutory bars against offshoring certain work, and relief of security and geopolitical concerns. Vendors who use domestic sourcing will also be aligning themselves with the priorities of the Obama administration and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as two of the three main priorities listed for ARRA 2009 are creating and saving jobs and spurring economic activity and investment in long-term economic growth. President Obama himself toured CGI's Lebanon site and asked how the operation could be replicated. This goes to show that establishing centers in the US not only fosters good relationships with government for existing work, but can help businesses further improve their suitability for future work with all levels of government. These strategic advantages do not include one motivation which was repeated throughout the event; that domestic sourcing is a way that the IT industry can bring jobs back home, while having a significant impact on the lives and communities of citizens. As we continue to attempt to alleviate the effects of the recession, efforts to preserve and create US jobs will certainly improve IT vendors total offerings to government.

Vegas and APCO have us thinking about MONEY!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:43:00 -0500

One of the more compelling sessions I attended on the final day, of this year's APCO Conference in Las Vegas, was a discussion on Grant Funds and how to receive them. The most interesting part was how much nothing has changed, really, not via a new administration ? or the Stimulus Bill ? or even the cutting of certain programs. Agencies are still required to present their best investment justifications and someone else controls the purse-strings.... As an Analyst who monitors the Public Safety marketplace, too, I am very familiar with how comfortably Radios can fall into this kind of need/justification/approval/funding model. Everyone understands the necessity of Radio Technology for first responders, sure, but radios only make up a small percentage of modern technologies going into today's Emergency Management Departments. So what if you need MORE than Radios, what if you need other more sophisticated technologies deployed, or heaven-forbid you have to explain the pains of interoperability (voice, data or otherwise)? Worse: what if you're a technology vendor selling these sophisticated technologies to an Agency that then has to seek grant funds to acquire your solution: do you really want to leave them to chance or luck? Are you sure ANYONE (including a State's Grant Administrator) is aware just how "technically awesome" your proposed exotic solution will be for the requesting Department? Accordingly, the following advice seems to stand for Government Agencies seeking their due, or Government Contractors who appropriately want to consider assisting their clients in getting funding for the solutions they're selling! 1. If the City/County/Locality is dependent on State allocations: make sure you clearly explain the "picture" of what benefits and values the solution can not just bring to your department and citizens ? though that really should be enough ? but also how it fits with the goals of the State's initiatives as well. 2. Follow ALL the rules with regards to requirements, forms and copying of documents. If you don't submit all copies to all required parties, or omit items which may seem only minor, the potential for refusal can be more easily made. 3. Make sure to speak clear and simple. Not everyone reviewing your submission is going to be an Engineer or understand the intricacies of your Department. 4. Consider the State and Regional advantage implications: as voting bodies like Agencies which show a cooperation and coordination of benefits which acknowledge both sides beyond just the requesting locality. 5. Make sure your case shows value. It should spell out the advances it creates for the Department, but also show how it will make a positive difference to the community and add to the bottom line ROI. Agencies have become more and more sophisticated in their approach to acquiring Funds to support solutions that are important to them. Not only are they hiring Consultants and Liaisons well versed in the laws of Government Funding, but they are expecting the Vendors they contract with to be filled with equal support and answers. To that end, Vendors should not just attend Conferences to be part of the "Exhibitor Floor" and WAITING for business to walk by; but they should, more importantly, also focus on the sessions and speakers which shed a light on how Agencies are buying products. Farewell to this year's Las Vegas APCO Attendees! See you next year in Houston....

Wednesday at APCO: Hints to Help Agencies, and Vendors to Beware / Be Aware?.

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:18:00 -0500

As Analysts who cover our respected Markets: I have noticed an increase within recent years of Agency utilization on Consulting Engagements, Advisory Panels and Consortium Committees which gather to make sure the needs of the Agency are kept on-point - and acknowledged throughout the procurement cycle ? when dealing with Government Contractors. It has become something that many Agencies have implemented ? despite the added costs to the project ? to make sure they don't end up shelling out a lot MORE unexpected money on the backend. One additional step to this measure is the hiring of Law Firms and other Liaison Consulting Firms which work on behalf of protecting the Agencies assets, best interests and technical requirements, when dealing with the Vendor Community. These firms represent an additional layer, now even more present in procurement cycles, and also have a niche within Conferences such as APCO. On Wednesday here in Las Vegas, one such firm, Deltawrx, presented a "Top 10 Procurement Mistakes" Presentation which gained a wide audience participation of Agency Buyers and IT Personnel wanting to make sure they had their bases covered! I wanted to share this list ? and paraphrase it highlighting what Agencies SHOULD DO when going out to bid on new IT Projects ? as I think it provides some sound advice for Agencies and the Vendors who cater to them. All should be aware of these rules.... 1. Consider End Users. Management, the Technology Department and some End-Users should all be involved in each phase of the procurement process and evaluations. Not only does this create better "buy-in" for all involved, but your better armed with a multitude of loyal influence, support and oversight. 2. Consider the Budget. It's best to keep in mind worst case scenario "slush funds"; to also secure funding PRIOR to procurement, AND think of "on-going" maintenance costs beyond the original 1-time deployment costs. 3. Consider the demand placed on the Department with regards to Implementation. Agencies are wise to dedicate resources (and protect their interests) to Training needs, Project Management and already have their "Implementation Team" in place! 4. Need Executive Champion. Both to confirm the personnel and budget resources, and to make sure things continue to roll when completion obstacles present themselves. 5. Do not accept a poorly written contract. Agencies are encouraged to make sure they have wording into the contract to make sure their expected interests are met. They are further advised to not accept a Vendors "Standard Contract"; and once received are asked to compare other Awarded Contracts the Vendor has issued to neighboring Agencies. 6. Do not become infatuated with a Vendor. While many consider this an argument for the benefits of "competitive bidding", the truth is even sole-source awards should be based on the merits of a given solutions specific benefits to fixing the unique needs of YOUR Agency. "Dazzling Technology features" do little benefit if your Agency doesn't have the infrastructure present or integration abilities to take advantage of them. 7. Have a structured Evaluation and Selection process. This should include a Voting and Advisory Group: where all members should evaluate all documents, reference checks, neighboring deployments, site evaluations, and pilot projects. 8. Do Not Under Specify Requirements. Know what problems you need to solve, and what areas have little room for negotiation; let the Vendor prove their worth. 9. Do Not Over Specify Requirements. Don't design the solution yourself. Do provide enough details and desires, but again let the Vendor prove they have a solution that can address these issues (and perhaps offer advantages you may not have considered). 10. Get the Legal Team involved early. Including Purchasing and Procurement Officials. The larger your oversight Team, especially when focused on each particular niches of expertise, the more assured you are of not running into issues (costly issues) later. The main reason I think its valuable to highlight this list, is Government Contractors need to be cognizant of these new buying styles and trends within the Agencies they pursue. In the future, it is expected that not only huge Federal Agencies will have go-betweens to the Procurement Cycle, but that small local niche departments will too (and are already doing so NOW): Agencies of all sizes are suiting up and bringing added "players" to the contract negotiating table. Accordingly vendors better have their game on!

Day 1 APCO Conference: FCC comments on Cell Phone Jamming

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:30:00 -0500

Cell-phone detection has become a common practice in prisons across America. One further element in the fight to eliminate inmate communications for unsavory practices is the introduction of cell phone jamming technologies. My colleagues have recently covered this initiative both in July, when it was first mentioned in the Senate, and earlier this month upon the Committee's even further promotion of the Safe Prisons Communication Act of 2009. What wasn't established at that time was how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) viewed this technology, for this purpose, while being very much AGAINST the practice of jamming air-space meant for communications the FCC DOES support. Then day-1 at the Las Vegas APCO Conference this week ? and during the "FCC Regulatory Panel" Session ? this subject was addressed with much speculation from the perspective of the FCC: On the one hand "jamming" is looked upon as a highly compromising crime in-itself of interrupting spectrum allocated for FCC regulated communication systems ? while Law Enforcement must consider the safety and protection of their environments when overseeing suspected cell-phone conduct ? the FCC stance is therefore an ongoing discussion in compromise and conclusions (on how best NOT to take down GOOD and necessary communications in the process of jamming) by working together with Law Agencies and technology companies for solutions which consider all interests. To that end, the FCC ? and no doubt the facilities which seek this technology ? will certainly more likely entertain the proposals of government contractors that can prove their solution will "take-down" the signal of intended perpetrators, while leaving legal devices meant for public, commercial and law enforcement communications maintained and uncompromised. This is the first day of the conference ? and hardly the only thing the FCC will be reporting here and of this venue ? to say nothing of the further word and projects APCO Standards-Based Committee's will be building this week: look to the INPUT Blog as our means of giving you the latest from this event, and other associated legislative initiatives like this, in the days and weeks to come!

Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Conference in Las Vegas next week

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:12:00 -0500

Beyond our interaction with the Government Community, one of the other ways in which the INPUT Analysts stay on top of varied procurement initiatives, within their assigned vertical markets, is via attendance to the Governments' Associations' Conferences. The Analysts within the State and Local (S&L) Research Department can travel to almost two dozen different conferences a year, all across the country, to derive at much of what makes up the analysis reporting within our associated content. It is also through these conferences that we interact with many of our Members, and gather information on additional aspects of value for them, including how our clients are developing new products to meet market demand and pursue new business. It is imperative to research the market from all these angles. Accordingly, every year ? as an Analyst responsible for S&L Public Safety Analysis and Opportunities ? I find it imperative to attend many different events, including the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) Annual Conference. Last year this event was held in traditional Kansas City (The Analyst Re-Cap for that event can be found here). This year, the annual conference will take place at a more progressive Las Vegas, NV. Like last year though, this will be a chance for those of us ingrained in this market to reconnect with old contacts and solidify rapport with new Prospects. It will be a chance to learn about new technology solutions, while still identifying new challenges, as well as giving a voice, presence, and window to many public safety departments communications and deployment endeavors. I also suspect APCO will take this opportunity to vote on several pending Committee issues and update attendees on "Project LOCATE". For Government Contractors moving into this market and attending this event for the first time, we welcome the added participation. For our Members who attend this event year-after-year, I hope to have a chance to see you there!

CA DGS Holds Webcast for IT Procurement Reform

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:32:00 -0500

The California Department of General Services (DGS) held a webcast on August 11th to go over their plan for IT procurement reform. The meeting was held as a way for DGS to explain changes going forward with IT procurement as a result of Governor Schwarzenegger signing a budget deal the week of July 21st. The main two topics of the meeting were to address timeliness and the procurement process in general. As it relates to timeliness, the goal of both California as a whole and DGS is to speed the procurement cycle up. In recent years, mutli-million dollar procurements within the State have taken as long as 3-5 years to procure. Going forward, it is a goal of the DGS to cut that time down to 22-26 months. Likewise, procurements for "complex IT systems" have taken on average 29.7 months in the past. However, it is now a goal of the DGS to cut that time down to 9.3 months. As far as announcements on the procurement process in general go, the news is that looking ahead, there will be quite a few more RFIs. The Governor's proposal will require that an RFI stage is included in all potential procurements, before any attempt to release a formal solicitation is made. The reason for this is simple: CA wants to verify that vendors are capable of providing solutions before they spend the time and money to create an RFP. Both of these concepts seemed to go over very well with those in attendance either in person or through the webcast. Only time will tell how successful CA is with shortening the procurement process, but if they can pull it off, it will surely be beneficial to both the State and the vendor community as well.

Business Intelligence Top Performer at Welfare Meeting

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:10:00 -0500

The 8th Annual National Child Welfare IT Manager's Meeting, sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau (CB), was held on May 18-21, 2009, in Bethesda, MD. One of the major focuses of State presentations was the use of business intelligence (BI) tools to assist in the transformation from legacy systems to innovative, web-based solutions.

Several definitions were given for BI, but all agreed on the enormous benefits to gain from implementing these solutions. BI has allowed users to gain visibility and insight into program performances, processes, and stakeholders. Specific to welfare, workers can respond faster to emerging case trends and make better decision with control at all levels of the welfare program. Important information can be pushed via emails and text messages to workers in the office or the field. BI has replaced historical data with real-time, predictive information that allows departments to design, develop, and implement key performance indicators to better measure and report performances across integrated processes. Users can securely access selected information from across the enterprise that is consistent with what is used by others, which is extremely important with families typically utilizing benefit services across the department, not just in one area.

Louisiana and Georgia are two states currently using BI solutions. They both provided examples of how business intelligence had a significant impact where data revealed better case and financial reporting; more efficient service delivery; faster timelines of data and responses to case and stakeholder concerns; and a more secure, standardized error-handling process with audit trails. Some opportunities that INPUT is currently tracking that utilize BI include:

Child Care Time and Attendance Payment System 56893
Automated Job Posting Technology Management System 55985
Systems Integrator for Child Welfare Services/Case Management System New System Project 39592
Business Intelligence and Data Mining System 30939
IBM D5000 Data Warehouse System Training 55375

To read more about the IT Manager's Meeting, please see INPUT's Analyst Recap.