FBI solicits proposals for new information system
Agency keeps solicitation and cost estimates secret as it moves to develop an integrated system by 2009 to replace the failed Virtual Case File effort.
The FBI issued a solicitation this week to begin developing an integrated, electronic information management system, estimating that it should be fully implemented by 2009.
The solicitation for the effort - dubbed Sentinel -- was sent to 40 select companies. The bureau did not publicly release the document and would not provide a copy to Government Executive. The request was released under a National Institutes of Health contracting vehicle.
Sentinel is intended to replace the now-defunct Virtual Case File system, which was to be the FBI's state-of-the-art information management architecture. The bureau spent about $170 million on VCF, which was officially abandoned in March. It was part of a program called Trilogy to modernize the agency's outdated computer systems.
The FBI also is not publicly providing cost estimates for Sentinel. FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Judiciary Committee two weeks ago that any public disclosure of costs might improperly affect the bidding process.
Some lawmakers noted that cost estimates for VCF were kept confidential until the program fell into disarray.
"I will assure you … that the FBI is committed to obtaining the best product at the lowest cost to the American people, and we do not want to prematurely disclose information that may influence bids from potential contractors," Mueller said.
Some lawmakers also criticized the FBI for taking so long to develop a modern information technology architecture, noting that 2009 will be eight years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"Is it realistic to be able to put all the dots on the map and all the pieces together in order to prevent another attack if we do not have the technology in place?" asked Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "And how can we look for a date as far away as 2009, considering all the money that has been invested and the lack of results so far?"
The FBI plans to award a contract for Sentinel by the end of the year. The system will be delivered in four phases, with each phase introducing new capabilities, transferring existing information and retiring legacy functions.
"Sentinel will further enable the FBI to achieve its mission priorities by enhancing information access and promoting information sharing with law enforcement and intelligence community members, to include the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security," the bureau said in announcing the solicitation. "The program will incrementally deliver capabilities to FBI users over the life of the project."