California Child Welfare Digital Services has selected a developer through a competitive procurement to develop open source software that will replace "intake" functionality in the state's legacy child welfare system.
New York City-based Case Commons Inc., which is recruiting staff in Sacramento, was chosen among nine submissions to the state through a bid initially released in December 2015. End to end, the procurement took about eight months after a delay that state officials say was prompted in part because of interest among vendors that haven't pursued government contracts before.
The Child Welfare System — New System (CWS-NS) is one of California’s largest IT modernization efforts, and its intake system will be one of the first parts developed under the project's revamped approach, which is using agile design principles and is divided into multiple bid opportunities, or "modules."
The intake module will include functionality that enables county-level child welfare workers to investigate and process child abuse, neglect and exploitation allegations, the state explained in a Sept. 1 announcement.
"The new Intake Digital Service will be an easy to navigate and efficient way to record and access information regarding child abuse, neglect, and exploitation allegations, investigative finds, and outcomes. The new service will provide comprehensive information that allows child welfare professionals to make timely, informed decisions regarding child safety," Child Welfare Digital Services said.
Under the $4.8 million contract, Case Commons will develop open source software for the intake system. Case Commons' offers a commercial product called Casebook, a Web-based application for child welfare and human services case management; the software is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. California's agreement with Case Commons will not be for customization or enhancement of Casebook, officials said.
Case Commons also was one of 11 firms the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) chose in July for a prequalified pool of agile developers eligible to work on the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System replacement and other projects, officials announced Tuesday afternoon.
