Government Computer News
Auditors: FBI on thin ice in Sentinel buy
The FBI faces special risks in developing the Sentinel case management system because it plans to do so at the same time that it is rolling out its new enterprise architecture, according to a letter issued today by Government Accountability Office auditors.
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The bureau now is evaluating proposals for systems integration of the case management system, which would serve as a replacement to the defunct Virtual Case File project, which was scuttled earlier this year after costing more than $100 million.
“There were only two proposals submitted,” an FBI official said, referring to those from Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the FBI contracting team is getting advice from Aerospace Corp. of Columbia, Md., and Mitre Corp. of McLean, Va., and likely will award the contract in January. Industry sources echoed the official’s statements.
“They are getting close [to an award,]” the bureau official said.. “They had some clarification questions [for Northrop Grumman and Lockheed],” the official added.
The Sentinel contract could be worth up to $170 million, according to the consulting firm Input of Reston, Va.
The FBI earlier had planned to award the contract this month.
Another federal official familiar with the project said the bureau is facing close scrutiny from Congress in the purchasing decision.
The GAO letter describing the Sentinel risks responded to questions from Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, the departments of State, Justice and Commerce and related agencies.
The auditors noted in their letter that urgent and compelling mission needs could justify proceeding with a major IT project even if an agency does not have a complete EA. “A key to dealing with this practical reality is recognizing that doing so increases the risk of deploying systems that are duplicative, not well integrated and unnecessarily costly to operate and interface,” according to GAO.
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