CalSAWS announced Thursday that it intends to award $786 million in contracts — and potentially as much as $1.3 billion over 11 years — to tech giants Gainwell Technologies and Deloitte for a comprehensive modernization of the statewide welfare system.
The consortium that oversees the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) announced in an intent to award that Gainwell submitted the best overall proposal for infrastructure services: $467,977,410 for six years, with four possible one-year extensions that, if granted, would total $775,686,087.
For the maintenance and enhancements contract, the consortium gave the nod to Deloitte: $318,924,502 over seven years, with four possible one-year extensions that would bring the total to $556,322,473.
Together, the two contracts represent $786,502,412 over seven years and up to $1,332,008,560 over 11 years for the work. The documents including the RFP and all revisions, the scope of work, vendor requirements and other details can be found here.
CalSAWS merges three county-level welfare systems and supports core programs including California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. That consolidation was completed late last year.
CalSAWS was formed in June 2019 when the state’s 58 counties joined together and formed the CalSAWS Consortium under a joint-powers agreement. The consortium collectively governs and oversees mission-critical initiatives that support the automation of public assistance programs and the delivery of social services in the state. Those programs and services include California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or CalFresh, and Medi-Cal.
Gainwell and Deloitte will take over work on a system that’s been done for more than two decades by Accenture.
Thursday’s announcement is the product of a process that began in July 2022 with a request for proposals for maintenance and operations of the system, which included two elements: infrastructure, and maintenance and enhancements. Five companies submitted proposals for one or both portions. The selection process was exacting and thorough, with vendors being asked to make presentations, sit for interviews, explain their processes and then present their proposals.
The infrastructure component includes monitoring, upgrading and maintaining the CalSAWS IT infrastructure in the CalSAWS Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud. The scope also includes network management, software and hardware support, Tiers 1 and 2 service desk, BenefitsCal technical help desk and the acquisition, configuration and installation of required hardware and software, according to the executive summary in the intent to award document.
The maintenance-and-enhancement component includes processes and services to support CalSAWS applications, including troubleshooting, modifying, maintaining and enhancing the applications. The scope includes optimizing CalSAWS applications to take advantage of cloud innovations and services, as well as a Tier 3 service desk.
Ultimately, CalSAWS will encompass functions including information and case management, delivery of benefits, and determination of eligibility.
Up to $1.3B in CalSAWS Contracts Go to Gainwell Technologies, Deloitte
The work on the California Statewide Automated Welfare System will be done in two parts. Together, the two contracts represent $786,502,412 over seven years and up to $1,332,008,560 over 11 years for the work.
