The California Public Utilities Commission is getting ready to launch a new enterprise e-filing project.
In late March the CPUC issued separate Request for Offer invitations for project management services, an implementation vendor and Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V). The solicitations are open to firms qualified on the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) and IT Master Service Agreement (MSA) lists.
Offers are due in late April and May, and the vendors will start work this summer.
The California Department of Technology approved the project, called eFAST — eFiling Administration Support — in January. The $5.7 million effort will build a common platform for the CPUC's five business divisions to receive and manage filings electronically. Most of CPUC's filing processes currently are manual, according to the bid documents.
"There are no automated, common processes for similar filings across departments, and there is no central method or location for customers to submit filings and their related documents," CPUC explains in the document.
CPUC plans for the new eFAST platform to become a hub for customer interaction with the commission.The system will be used for various types of filings, such as the California Advances Services Fund (CASF).
"The CPUC seeks to implement a standard, enterprise-wide platform for the electronic servicing, including filing of interactions (e.g., documents and data) between the CPUC and its constituents. This platform, referred to as the eFAST Solution, is intended to be a common platform containing a suite of tools and functionality upon which business process specific solutions can be developed through use of the tools included in the eFAST Solution, and that integrates with existing internal or external systems, Web services and applications, and custom programming when applicable."
CPUC says hardware for eFAST platform will be housed at the Office of Technology Services state data center. A small pilot will be done before the system is fully launched.
The selected vendors will work alongside a CPUC project staff team. CPUC says it uses a "deliverables-based" IT contracting model as a standard.
