A new joint task force aimed at improving the way California pursues major IT acquisitions appears to be starting up, according to an RFQ from the State Controller’s Office to hire staff for the effort.
The solicitation dated November 20 states, “The State Controller’s Office (SCO) seeks specialized writing services to summarize and present the proceedings and recommendations of a joint task force serving the Controller and the Governor…. The task force will review the state’s contracting and procurement procedures and recommend any statutory, regulatory or administrative changes necessary to improve the bidding, procurement, installation, performance and cost-effectiveness of the state’s major technology acquisitions. The task force will make recommendations regarding any statutory or regulatory changes necessary to ensure adequate oversight of the contracting and procurement authority utilized by state agencies.”
The anticipated start date for contract work is December 10, ending in mid 2013. A spokesperson for the controller responded to an email but declined to elaborate.
The SCO’s highest profile IT project that will modernize the state’s payroll and HR computer systems, MyCalPAYs has struggled with the data conversion issues typical of a major legacy modernization project. The first of five waves was launched this summer to eventually include 160 departments across state government.
On November 19, the SCO signed a $475,000 contract with Cooperative Personnel Services to “validate the accuracy of all aspects of payroll issued by the MyCalPAYS system since going live,” according to state procurement records.
Earlier this year, a SCO spokesperson told Techwire.net that the data conversion problems have been resolved. "We’ve successfully converted department data and we’re on a more efficient path with the data collection from the departments," said Garin Casaleggio in March after IBM was awarded a $12 million Deployment and Transition contract to provide staff to help support state departments switching to the new system.
