FBI Delays Computer-System Contract

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "The FBI postponed until 2006 the awarding of a huge computer-overhaul contract, gun-shy after a $170 million failed first effort, the Wall Street Journal reports: 'Much is riding on the project's success. Congress and other overseers pilloried the FBI for its reliance on paper records, forms and file cabinets. The FBI only last year completed the rollout of the Internet to its agents and analysts. And even though the bureau installed a computerized case-management system in the mid-1990s, it relied largely on aging, less-agile technology to do so. And it did little to eliminate the department's notorious number of paper forms -- currently numbering more than 1,000.'"

Comments

huh?

[stonefoz]

wasn't something put in with the patriot-act that dumped money in the fbi for a huge database overhall. something to enable crosschecks between agencies. if i'm not wrong, what else are they in need of updating?

Re:The cheapest solution is readily available!

[RexRhino]

Actually, when the FBI started, they were not a police force. FBI agents were not allowed to carry guns, and the FBI was largely a small agency used to coordinate local police forces investigations for crime that crossed state borders. If the FBI was downsized to it's very limited non-law-enforcement role, it would arguably be constitutional.

It's amazing

[confusion]

It really is amazing that they can spend that kind of money and have nothing to show for it... All the while, they're hunting criminals trying to screw the government - sounds like they should look inside.

Jerry
http://www.cyvin.org/

They're waiting to give the bid to Microsoft.

[bergeron76]

Seriously. It looks like they are stonewalling for MSFT.

Re:My favorite

[Kjella]

This was on a sign outside a town in a game I played once and I really liked it:

"Stranger, obey our laws. We have both swords and shovels and doubt anyone would miss you."

Frankly, I think that's how we ought to handle crimnals that move about.

You already have the death penalty. What more do you want? That sign sounds more like a call for vigilantism, if something bad happens while you're in town we're going to blame it on you and string you up in nearest tree. Who's going to complain?

Kjella

Classic project failure

[msobkow]

Reads like a classic project failure, with the classic failed project start: It was managed by someone who created "their own" database. i.e. A manager who thinks he knows better than the experts being hired, who overrides their estimates and recommendations, and who blows off any technical issues they raise because he "did it himself" in less time with an underpowered single-user tool.

I've worked on three similar projects -- only one succeeded. The one success was because the manager in question got yanked half way through and there was still enough time for a competent manager to be hired who'd let the team do their job properly.