The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be the first Homeland Security Department component to undertake a less-ambitious financial system modernization effort following the collapse of a departmentwide effort known as Transformation and Systems Consolidation.
DHS canceled TASC in May 2011 after the Government Accountability Office ruled that DHS improperly gave CACI of Arlington, Va. a $450 million contract to implement the enterprise resource planning system. Cancellation of TASC marked the second time that a DHS attempt at an enterprisewide ERP for financial management purposes has failed; a previous effort, called eMerge2, ended in 2006.
DHS plans for FEMA to migrate its financial systems to a federal shared service provider at the start of fiscal 2015, according to GAO testimony (.pdf) presented March 1 before the House Homeland Security subcommittee on oversight, investigations and management.
-David Perera, FierceHomelandSecurity.com
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Showing posts with label TASC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TASC. Show all posts
Monday, March 05, 2012
Friday, December 03, 2010
DHS Transformation Delayed, Again, by Protests
On November 30, 2010 protests were filed with GAO against the award of the DHS TASC contract.
One protest was filed by the unsuccessful bidder, GCE. The other was filed by years-long TASC antagonist, Savantage Financial Services - whose legacy software running in multiple DHS component agencies will eventually be replaced by the TASC solution.
DHS is now forced to wait until March to proceed with much needed transformation and consolidation efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its homeland security operations.
Below are the protest docket numbers:
Global Computer Enterprises, Inc. (HSHQDC-09-R-00001)
Department of Homeland Security
Outcome: Not Decided
Status: Case Currently Open
Filed Date: November 30, 2010
Due: March 10, 2011
Case Type: Bid Protest
GAO Attorney: Jonathan L. Kang
File Number: 404597.1
Savantage Financial Services, Inc. (HSHQDC-09-R-00001)
Department of Homeland Security
Outcome: Not Decided
Status: Case Currently Open
Filed Date: November 30, 2010
Due: March 10, 2011
Case Type: Bid Protest
GAO Attorney: Jonathan L. Kang
File Number: 404597.2
One protest was filed by the unsuccessful bidder, GCE. The other was filed by years-long TASC antagonist, Savantage Financial Services - whose legacy software running in multiple DHS component agencies will eventually be replaced by the TASC solution.
DHS is now forced to wait until March to proceed with much needed transformation and consolidation efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its homeland security operations.
Below are the protest docket numbers:
Global Computer Enterprises, Inc. (HSHQDC-09-R-00001)
Department of Homeland Security
Outcome: Not Decided
Status: Case Currently Open
Filed Date: November 30, 2010
Due: March 10, 2011
Case Type: Bid Protest
GAO Attorney: Jonathan L. Kang
File Number: 404597.1
Savantage Financial Services, Inc. (HSHQDC-09-R-00001)
Department of Homeland Security
Outcome: Not Decided
Status: Case Currently Open
Filed Date: November 30, 2010
Due: March 10, 2011
Case Type: Bid Protest
GAO Attorney: Jonathan L. Kang
File Number: 404597.2
Friday, October 01, 2010
DHS management improvements start with acquisition
The Homeland Security Department is tackling one of its biggest management problems first as part of its overall approach to complete its transformation and get off the government's high-risk list.
Janice Holl Lute, DHS deputy secretary, told Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs lawmakers Thursday that it was improving all stages of its acquisition process as part of its overall management integration effort.
One of the end results, Lute said, is to get off the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list, which is due out in January. DHS management has been on the list since Congress created the agency in 2003.
She added that DHS has reevaluated every performance measure - 180 in all. Lute said the agency has recast them in plain language so they provide indicators of the value the program brings to the mission.
Lute said DHS is focusing on seven initiatives that will contribute to the integration of the department's management. These include enterprise governance, balanced workforce strategy, headquarters consolidation and data center migration.
But it's coming up with a common language and business discipline across their acquisition, financial management and human capital management processes that will make the biggest difference.
She added that DHS is taking additional steps from integrating science and technology to a greater extent to instituting acquisition career development programs to strengthening their procurement staffing.
The department also is conducting regular reviews of project portfolios. Besides the acquisition processes and workforce, Lute said DHS is moving ahead with its financial systems consolidation project, known as TASC.
Industry sources expected DHS to make an award in August for the $400 million program. But the Office of Management and Budget slowed down all financial systems projects for review.
Lute said DHS is following OMB's requirements to focus on specific needs of the components based on risk.
She said once awarded TASC will focus on 18-24 month deployment schedule and a plan to minimize cost and risk.
-Jason Miller, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE or LISTEN HERE...
Janice Holl Lute, DHS deputy secretary, told Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs lawmakers Thursday that it was improving all stages of its acquisition process as part of its overall management integration effort.
One of the end results, Lute said, is to get off the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list, which is due out in January. DHS management has been on the list since Congress created the agency in 2003.
She added that DHS has reevaluated every performance measure - 180 in all. Lute said the agency has recast them in plain language so they provide indicators of the value the program brings to the mission.
Lute said DHS is focusing on seven initiatives that will contribute to the integration of the department's management. These include enterprise governance, balanced workforce strategy, headquarters consolidation and data center migration.
But it's coming up with a common language and business discipline across their acquisition, financial management and human capital management processes that will make the biggest difference.
She added that DHS is taking additional steps from integrating science and technology to a greater extent to instituting acquisition career development programs to strengthening their procurement staffing.
The department also is conducting regular reviews of project portfolios. Besides the acquisition processes and workforce, Lute said DHS is moving ahead with its financial systems consolidation project, known as TASC.
Industry sources expected DHS to make an award in August for the $400 million program. But the Office of Management and Budget slowed down all financial systems projects for review.
Lute said DHS is following OMB's requirements to focus on specific needs of the components based on risk.
She said once awarded TASC will focus on 18-24 month deployment schedule and a plan to minimize cost and risk.
-Jason Miller, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE or LISTEN HERE...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
House Homeland Security probes DHS ERP procurement
A troubled enterprise resource planning project at the Homeland Security Department is gaining further scrutiny by the House Homeland Security Committee.
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Rep. Christopher Carney (D-Pa.), chairman of the management, investigations and oversight subcommittee, sent a letter (.pdf) on July 16 to DHS Under Secretary for Management Rafael Borras, wanting to know if DHS has halted contractor source selection for its Transformation and Systems Consolidation program.
TASC is one of 20 projects selected by OMB for review under the auspices of a June 28 White House memo which calls for agencies not to initiate new development spending on federal financial management systems worth more than $20 million until
OMB has reviewed spending plans. Both the DHS inspector general and the Government Accountability Office have issued recent reports drawing attention to the program's difficulties. DHS issued a request for proposals for the "end-to-end business processes in support of financial, acquisition and asset management" project with the intention of making an award by the second quarter of fiscal 2010, which ended March 31.
Thompson and Carney, in their letter, said they support the "concept" of TASC, but "serious reservations regarding the projected $450 million cost of the TASC contract remains." The project "falls squarely within the purview of [the June 28 OMB] memorandum," they state, adding that they want to know what impact the memo will have on TASC's future, whether the department is now considering alternatives to TASC, and whether or not the planned OMB review of TASC has commenced.
For more:
READ MORE...
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Rep. Christopher Carney (D-Pa.), chairman of the management, investigations and oversight subcommittee, sent a letter (.pdf) on July 16 to DHS Under Secretary for Management Rafael Borras, wanting to know if DHS has halted contractor source selection for its Transformation and Systems Consolidation program.
TASC is one of 20 projects selected by OMB for review under the auspices of a June 28 White House memo which calls for agencies not to initiate new development spending on federal financial management systems worth more than $20 million until
OMB has reviewed spending plans. Both the DHS inspector general and the Government Accountability Office have issued recent reports drawing attention to the program's difficulties. DHS issued a request for proposals for the "end-to-end business processes in support of financial, acquisition and asset management" project with the intention of making an award by the second quarter of fiscal 2010, which ended March 31.
Thompson and Carney, in their letter, said they support the "concept" of TASC, but "serious reservations regarding the projected $450 million cost of the TASC contract remains." The project "falls squarely within the purview of [the June 28 OMB] memorandum," they state, adding that they want to know what impact the memo will have on TASC's future, whether the department is now considering alternatives to TASC, and whether or not the planned OMB review of TASC has commenced.
For more:
- download the Thompson and Carney letter (.pdf)
- read the July 2009 DHS OIG report 10-95 on TASC (.pdf)
- read December 2009 GAO report 10-76 on TASC (.pdf)
READ MORE...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Appellate Court Rejects DHS TASC Protest
SAVANTAGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. v. THE UNITED STATES, CAFC No.
2009-5076, February 22, 2010.
Pre-award bid protest. DHS procurement. The court affirms the COFC decision which found it logical that defendant would want to ensure its success by seeking a fully integrated system, both on the basis of its own experiences and those of other agencies and departments. The court agrees "with the trial court that DHS has a rational basis for requiring an integrated financial, acquisition, and asset management system that is currently fully operational within the federal government... " ".....Therefore, we reject Savantage's contention that DHS's requirements constitute a pretextual cover for demanding an Oracle-based system. Because we agree with the trial court that DHS has a rational basis for requiring an integrated financial, acquisition, and asset management system that is currently fully operational within the federal government, we uphold the judgment of the Court of Federal Claims".
http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions/09-5076.pdf
2009-5076, February 22, 2010.
Pre-award bid protest. DHS procurement. The court affirms the COFC decision which found it logical that defendant would want to ensure its success by seeking a fully integrated system, both on the basis of its own experiences and those of other agencies and departments. The court agrees "with the trial court that DHS has a rational basis for requiring an integrated financial, acquisition, and asset management system that is currently fully operational within the federal government... " ".....Therefore, we reject Savantage's contention that DHS's requirements constitute a pretextual cover for demanding an Oracle-based system. Because we agree with the trial court that DHS has a rational basis for requiring an integrated financial, acquisition, and asset management system that is currently fully operational within the federal government, we uphold the judgment of the Court of Federal Claims".
http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions/09-5076.pdf
Monday, November 16, 2009
DHS financial management systems in disarray, IG says
The Homeland Security Department still has fragmented financial management systems that can't share data effectively, according to the department's inspector general and the Government Accountability Office.
DHS is working on a departmentwide process, called Transformation and Systems Consolidation (TASC), that would integrate its financial systems, currently spread across 22 agencies. But Kay Daly, director of financial management and assurance issues at GAO, said the department hasn't even identified which business processes need to be integrated into TASC.
The DHS IG, meanwhile, says many of the department's existing financial systems suffer from security flaws and an inability to communicate. "Systems are fragmented, do not share data, and over the years they have developed security flaws," said James Taylor, the department's deputy inspector general, at an Oct. 29 hearing of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on management, investigations and oversight.
Problems also plague financial systems at many agencies within DHS. The Coast Guard, for example, doesn't have policies in place for patching and upgrading its systems, or for disaster recovery; the Federal Emergency Management Agency doesn't maintain audit logs, which could help it track down the source of an intrusion.
Peggy Sherry, the department's acting chief financial officer, said DHS has established a working group — composed of managers from headquarters and individual DHS agencies — to work on consolidating financial systems. Sherry said her office also is consulting other departments to find out how they manage financial systems.
The department is planning to buy a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software package to integrate its financial systems.
Sherry said DHS expects to sign a contract between January and March. It will likely be a cost-plus contract. Several lawmakers at the hearing urged the department to consider a fixed-price contract, but Sherry said that would make it more difficult to buy the necessary software.
Lawmakers seemed impatient with the department's longstanding inability to integrate its financial systems and its other management processes. GAO and the IG issued a number of reports on financial management at DHS over the last few years; and many of their recommendations still have yet to be implemented.
At the Coast Guard, for example, 21 of the 22 conclusions in the most recent IG report were repeated from a previous report. GAO says none of its recommendations for the department have been fully implemented.
-Gregg Carlstrom, FederalTimes.com
READ MORE...
Financial Management Systems: DHS Faces Challenges to Successfully Consolidate Its Existing Disparate Systems.
GAO-10-210T, October 29
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-210T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10210thigh.pdf
DHS is working on a departmentwide process, called Transformation and Systems Consolidation (TASC), that would integrate its financial systems, currently spread across 22 agencies. But Kay Daly, director of financial management and assurance issues at GAO, said the department hasn't even identified which business processes need to be integrated into TASC.
The DHS IG, meanwhile, says many of the department's existing financial systems suffer from security flaws and an inability to communicate. "Systems are fragmented, do not share data, and over the years they have developed security flaws," said James Taylor, the department's deputy inspector general, at an Oct. 29 hearing of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on management, investigations and oversight.
Problems also plague financial systems at many agencies within DHS. The Coast Guard, for example, doesn't have policies in place for patching and upgrading its systems, or for disaster recovery; the Federal Emergency Management Agency doesn't maintain audit logs, which could help it track down the source of an intrusion.
Peggy Sherry, the department's acting chief financial officer, said DHS has established a working group — composed of managers from headquarters and individual DHS agencies — to work on consolidating financial systems. Sherry said her office also is consulting other departments to find out how they manage financial systems.
The department is planning to buy a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software package to integrate its financial systems.
Sherry said DHS expects to sign a contract between January and March. It will likely be a cost-plus contract. Several lawmakers at the hearing urged the department to consider a fixed-price contract, but Sherry said that would make it more difficult to buy the necessary software.
Lawmakers seemed impatient with the department's longstanding inability to integrate its financial systems and its other management processes. GAO and the IG issued a number of reports on financial management at DHS over the last few years; and many of their recommendations still have yet to be implemented.
At the Coast Guard, for example, 21 of the 22 conclusions in the most recent IG report were repeated from a previous report. GAO says none of its recommendations for the department have been fully implemented.
-Gregg Carlstrom, FederalTimes.com
READ MORE...
Financial Management Systems: DHS Faces Challenges to Successfully Consolidate Its Existing Disparate Systems.
GAO-10-210T, October 29
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-210T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10210thigh.pdf
Friday, February 27, 2009
DHS financial system contract protested, again
The Homeland Security Department's contract to upgrade its financial management system has come under protest, again.
Savantage Solutions submitted a complaint to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Feb. 23 claiming the department's request for proposals was unduly restrictive, says a company spokesman.
The Savantage spokesman says the RFP is unduly restrictive because DHS seems to be looking for a specific type of financial management software that can integrate with existing procurement and other systems.
According to DHS's Exhibit 53 for the financial management system, the agency uses several Oracle systems as well as Compusearch's Prism and Sunflower asset management system.
Savantage protested the first RFP DHS put out more than a year ago, saying the department's brand name justification was illegal. The federal judge sustained the protest and told DHS to issue a full and open solicitation.
Industry sources say the protest likely will not delay DHS's plans.
"DHS remains committed to the mission of transforming and consolidating financial management systems throughout the department," the spokesman says. "We will continue to focus on strengthening department-wide financial accountability, and consider the best way to deliver the right tools into the hands of our operators and the right information in the hands of our decision makers."
DHS - Exhibit 53 for financial management system upgrade (pdf)
FedBizOpps.gov - DHS solicitation for financial management system upgrade
- Jason Miller, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE...
FedCFO.com PUBLISHER's NOTE: Savantage derives a large portion of its revenue from Operations & Maintenance support for legacy financial systems installed at various DHS agencies. Savantage's glaringly obvious financial incentives for prolonging the DHS financial system modernization program have yet to be highlighted by the media.
Savantage Solutions submitted a complaint to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Feb. 23 claiming the department's request for proposals was unduly restrictive, says a company spokesman.
The Savantage spokesman says the RFP is unduly restrictive because DHS seems to be looking for a specific type of financial management software that can integrate with existing procurement and other systems.
According to DHS's Exhibit 53 for the financial management system, the agency uses several Oracle systems as well as Compusearch's Prism and Sunflower asset management system.
Savantage protested the first RFP DHS put out more than a year ago, saying the department's brand name justification was illegal. The federal judge sustained the protest and told DHS to issue a full and open solicitation.
Industry sources say the protest likely will not delay DHS's plans.
"DHS remains committed to the mission of transforming and consolidating financial management systems throughout the department," the spokesman says. "We will continue to focus on strengthening department-wide financial accountability, and consider the best way to deliver the right tools into the hands of our operators and the right information in the hands of our decision makers."
DHS - Exhibit 53 for financial management system upgrade (pdf)
FedBizOpps.gov - DHS solicitation for financial management system upgrade
- Jason Miller, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE...
FedCFO.com PUBLISHER's NOTE: Savantage derives a large portion of its revenue from Operations & Maintenance support for legacy financial systems installed at various DHS agencies. Savantage's glaringly obvious financial incentives for prolonging the DHS financial system modernization program have yet to be highlighted by the media.
Friday, January 09, 2009
DHS Releases TASC Solicitation
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Resource Management Transformation Office (RMTO) has a requirement for a proven, integrated financial, asset and acquisition management system solution with the accompanying program management, change management and integration services to implement and sustain the proposed solution. This Request for Proposals is seeking a business partner to provide (1) an enterprise solution that integrates end-to-end business processes in support of financial, acquisition and asset management; and (2) integration services and program management support.
The Department will conduct this enterprise-wide acquisition as a full and open competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15. As a result of this competition, DHS intends to award a single indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) performance-based contract for a five (5) year base period and five (5) one-year options.
The acquisition will be conducted using an advisory multi-step evaluation process. Phase I will be to identify viable Offerors to compete for the award of the full TASC requirements. The viable Offerors will submit a Phase II proposal and provide a demonstration of their proposed solution.
DHS TASC Solitation on FBO.gov
The Department will conduct this enterprise-wide acquisition as a full and open competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15. As a result of this competition, DHS intends to award a single indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) performance-based contract for a five (5) year base period and five (5) one-year options.
The acquisition will be conducted using an advisory multi-step evaluation process. Phase I will be to identify viable Offerors to compete for the award of the full TASC requirements. The viable Offerors will submit a Phase II proposal and provide a demonstration of their proposed solution.
DHS TASC Solitation on FBO.gov
Monday, December 29, 2008
Homeland Security delays solicitation for IT consolidation
The Homeland Security Department has postponed until after the holidays a request for proposals for integrating its financial, acquisition and asset management processes.
Department officials expect to publish the solicitation for Transformation and Systems Consolidation on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site by Jan. 9, several weeks after the Dec. 17, 2008, release date they originally planned.
The revised solicitation follows a draft version circulated in October. DHS accepted comments on the draft until Nov. 7 and prospective bidders had until Dec. 15 to submit initial proposals that would determine whether they qualified to compete for the contract. Federal agencies that are designated as shared service providers of human resources and financial management under the President's Management Agenda goal to expand e-government also are eligible to bid, under the rules of public-private competition established by the Office of Management and Budget in Circular A-76.
Members of Congress and the Government Accountability Office have criticized DHS for delays in consolidation of disparate IT systems from the 22 agencies that combined to form the department in 2003.
According to the solicitation's cover letter, DHS is "seeking a partner to transition components from existing environments to the integrated solution" that relies on a set of standardized business processes. The winner of the contract will be responsible for the following:
Analysis and documentation of system requirements;System design, development and configuration;IT security controls and integration;System integration, quality assurance and user acceptance testing;Implementation;Training;Operations, maintenance and enhancements.
- Jill R. Aitoro, NextGov.com
READ MORE...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
DHS delays financial management RFP
The Homeland Security Department delayed the release of its request for proposals to update its financial management system.
DHS had planned on releasing the much-anticipated RFP on Dec. 17, but now says it will issue the solicitation on or about Jan. 9.
The department is seeking an agencywide system that integrates end-to-end business processes to support financial, acquisition and asset management. The vendor also will provide integration and program management support services.
The contract could be worth about $400 million, according to industry estimates.
Several large financial management systems integrators are interested, vendor sources say.
They include: Accenture, CACI, CGI, CSC, Deloitte, and IBM.
For information: DHS notice on Fedbizopps.gov
DHS had planned on releasing the much-anticipated RFP on Dec. 17, but now says it will issue the solicitation on or about Jan. 9.
The department is seeking an agencywide system that integrates end-to-end business processes to support financial, acquisition and asset management. The vendor also will provide integration and program management support services.
The contract could be worth about $400 million, according to industry estimates.
Several large financial management systems integrators are interested, vendor sources say.
They include: Accenture, CACI, CGI, CSC, Deloitte, and IBM.
For information: DHS notice on Fedbizopps.gov
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
DHS to try again for new financial system
The Homeland Security Department will try for a second time to integrate as many as eight disparate financial management systems.
Each DHS component currently uses different systems that range from in-house developed software to services provided by the Bureau of Public Debt to the Coast Guard's Oracle system to manage their money.
The department says it will issue a request for proposals for the Transformation and Systems Consolidation (TASC) initiative by Sept. 30.
The notice says DHS is looking for an integrated financial management, asset management and acquisition management system as well as program management, change management and integration services.
The contract, which some in industry estimate to be worth about $400 million, is for three years with seven one-year options.
Unlike the first attempt, known as Emerge, the contract asks vendors to submit their best system and does not call for one specific type of product.
DHS tried to issue the RFP for TASC about 6 months ago, but Savantage protested the requirements because they called for a specific type of product.
The Government Accountability Office upheld Savantage's protest and DHS is just releasing the modified RFP in the next week.
Several large financial management systems integrators are interested, vendor sources say. They include: Accenture, CGI, CSC, Deloitte, IBM and Savantage.
Vendor sources say they expect DHS to make a new award by next Spring.
-Jason Miller, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE or LISTEN HERE...
Each DHS component currently uses different systems that range from in-house developed software to services provided by the Bureau of Public Debt to the Coast Guard's Oracle system to manage their money.
The department says it will issue a request for proposals for the Transformation and Systems Consolidation (TASC) initiative by Sept. 30.
The notice says DHS is looking for an integrated financial management, asset management and acquisition management system as well as program management, change management and integration services.
The contract, which some in industry estimate to be worth about $400 million, is for three years with seven one-year options.
Unlike the first attempt, known as Emerge, the contract asks vendors to submit their best system and does not call for one specific type of product.
DHS tried to issue the RFP for TASC about 6 months ago, but Savantage protested the requirements because they called for a specific type of product.
The Government Accountability Office upheld Savantage's protest and DHS is just releasing the modified RFP in the next week.
Several large financial management systems integrators are interested, vendor sources say. They include: Accenture, CGI, CSC, Deloitte, IBM and Savantage.
Vendor sources say they expect DHS to make a new award by next Spring.
-Jason Miller, FederalNewsRadio.com
READ MORE or LISTEN HERE...
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