The California Public Utilities has requested a $5.3 million budget augmentation for 2016-2017 to implement a new platform for enterprise business applications.
The Web-based eFiling Administration Support (eFAST) solution would be implemented using a combination of in-house and contract resources, according to state records.
“The platform will serve as a hub for customer interaction with the CPUC, including submitting filings (documents and data), maintaining customer accounts, making payments for fees and payments, and submitting inquiries,” the budget request says.
The CPUC reports it would procure project management services from outside contractors to support implementation, IV&V, as well as vendor services for the primary solution. CPUC envisions the solution would be built on an Oracle-based tool set.
This proposed project is moving through the California Department of Technology’s project approval process.
The eFAST common architecture is the main component, but three ancillary systems under the platform also would be built:
--A Transportation Carrier Portal, which would manage safety requirements, background checks and other regulatory processes for limousines, moving companies, transportation network carriers, tour buses and other types of transportation providers.
--An Informal Submissions Portal would track and manage the thousands of advice letters and other communications CPUC receives each year.
--A Program Claims Management System to reduce manual processing of claims submission, creating vouchers and tracking voucher status.
If approved, the $5.3 budget augmentation for eFAST would come from several existing CPUC special funds.
CPUC released an RFI for eFAST one year ago. The eFAST project was temporarily delayed in 2015-16 due in part to a $5 million cut to the Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account, according to a CPUC memo. The commission says it’s waiting for funding to be restored.
