FBI's New Info-Sharing Software Project Fails

Spy Handler writes "After 4 years and half a billion dollars, FBI's attempt to create new information sharing software - called Virtual Case File - simply didn't work.

Comments

A little political editorializing going on...

[paranode]

From the article:

WASHINGTON -- A new FBI (news - web sites) computer program designed to help agents share information to ward off terrorist attacks may have to be scrapped, the agency has concluded, forcing a further delay in a four-year, half-billion-dollar overhaul of its antiquated computer system.

The half-billion is entire their budget to overhaul computer systems, not how much money they spent on this software.

This is not to say they haven't wasted any money:

Science Applications has received about $170 million from the FBI for its work on the project. Sources said about $100 million of that would be essentially lost if the FBI were to scrap the software.

Re:A little political editorializing going on...

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a little bit of information about SAIC, taken from this document.

It seems they've got their hands into many of the things that concern slashdotters, including the Diebold voting machine debacle. They are the "independent" company Diebold hired to investigate after the Johns Hopkins report was issued. More scary stuff follows:

The Associated Press describes Science Applications International Inc. (SAIC) as "the most influential company most people have never heard of." The Asia Times calls it "the most mysterious and feared of the big 10 defense giants."

SAIC ranks among the top ten companies receiving defense contracts. Founded in 1969 by former Los Alamos physicist, Dr. J.R. Beyster, the company is the largest employeeowned company in the nation. The company boasts in excess of $6 billion in annual revenues and 30,000 employees worldwide. Employees are encouraged to buy shares in the company and are allowed to sell them to one another once a year at prices set by the company's auditor. If they leave the company they are required to sell their shares back to the company.

SAIC might best be described as "the-company-of-what's-happening-now" in defense and intelligence. If it's important and it's happening, it's likely that SAIC has piece of the action. The company's ranks overflow with former or retired government personnel, many from the military and intelligence agencies. Much of SAIC's work is highly classified.

At any given point in time, SAIC's board of directors represents a Who's Who of former military and intelligence officials. Retired Admiral Bobby Inman has been a fixture on SAIC's board of directors for years. Inman served as Director of Naval Intelligence, Vice Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Director of the National Security Agency, and finally Deputy Director of Central Intelligence.

SAIC's board changes to reflect the politics of the time. Gone from SAIC's board are directors with expertise in Cold War and Iran/Contra eras, like former Nixon Defense Secretary Melvin Laird, ex-CIA Director Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense William Perry, and former CIA Director John Deutch.

They have been replaced by people with more timely contacts, such as SAIC director Gen. Wayne Downing (US Army retired). Before the war, Downing served as a lobbyist for the US-backed Iraqi National Congress and its head, Ahmad Chalabi. Downing (along with Bechtel director George Shultz) also served on the board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq.

Long before the shooting even began, SAIC was already at work on Iraq. The trail of contracts begin with William Owens, another former high-level military officer who sits on the boards of five companies that received millions in defense contracts last year. Owens also served as president, chief operating officer and vice chair of SAIC. And, Owens is a member of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's internal think-tank, the Defense Policy Board.

• Noteworthy: In 1995 the company was ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine after a whistleblower charged SAIC had cheated the Air Force on a contract to develop jet fighter cockpit displays. (Hollis v SAIC, #93-CV-390)

To say that the Defense Policy Board's membership tips to the right would not be an overstatement. Among its members: Ken Adelman (who made the rounds of network talk shows, assuring Americans a war in Iraq would be "a cake walk"); Newt Gingrich; Richard Perle; Dan Quayle; and Bechtel senior vice president, retired Army General Jack Sheehan. The Center for Public Integrity reports that, of the 30 DPB members, nine have ties to companies that won more than $76 billion in defense contracts last year.

SAIC's Iraq contacts (at least those not classified) appear to begin sometime in February 2003, nearly two months before the war, when the Pentagon formed the Iraqi Recons

Open the source!

[Teun]

The system as a whole might not work but as the article states there are salvageable parts in it for the FBI

This is a prime example why public funded software ought to be open source, that way the community as a whole can pick bits and pieces out of it for further use.

Re:What else is new.

[TrentL]

Well, in TFA, it says that the program was contracted out to a company named Science Applications.

It's impossible to tell what the problem was until we learn more. As someone who works in government contracting, I know that it can be like pulling teeth trying to figure out WTF the government actually wants. I'm sure a typical requirements review went something like:

ScienceApps: So, what do you guys want?

FBI: You know, a case management system that does stuff.

ScienceApps: Care to elaborate?

FBI: Sorry, gotta go.

100 million

[Dan East]

According to the article, $170 million has been paid for software development. $100 million of that will be lost of the software is scrapped. The rest went to purchase thousands of computers and set up new networks.

So, surprise, the slashdot story title is misleading.

Dan East

Project Requirements Failed!

[sciop101]

A prototype of the Virtual Case File was delivered to the FBI last month by Science Applications International Corp. of San Diego.

I have worked with SAIC on different projects.

IMHO SAIC delivered the Feds a package that exceeded the minimum requirement for the prototype. It has to interface with the old, slow existing system.

Re:What else is new.

[Detritus]

FBI: Do the stuff the old system does, only cheaper, faster and better! With GUIs and user-friendly bits! And it has to built on Microsoft technology. We only drink Microsoft kool-aid in this office.

ScienceApps: What does the current system do?

FBI: You know, FBI stuff. By the way, we need a detailed budget and schedule by next week.