In a Request for Offer (RFO) issued Friday, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) is looking for IT companies to provide “up to four … experienced project managers with detailed knowledge and experience of managing network infrastructure, business intelligence/data warehouse implementation, and systems implementation/integration projects” to assist it in a variety of projects. Among the takeaways:
- CalSTRS, which is believed to be “the largest educator-only pension fund in the world” according to the RFO, is “pursuing a number of initiatives and efforts in support of its strategic goal of digital transformation.” These, it said, include implementing “adoption of cloud computing solutions where feasible and cost effective,” migrating apps to a cloud data center, expanding its network infrastructure to a second headquarters now being built, and standing up a “modernized” pension administration system to replace legacy systems.
- The personnel chosen will have responsibilities including creating “custom built/in-house solutions, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), and anything as a service (XaaS) products” capable of working on various technology services projects including those supporting CalSTRS’ initiatives toward adopting “cloud service models and solutions.” Tasks include defining and managing project scope, schedule and resources; communicating with all stakeholders; delivering weekly and monthly project status reports and developing presentations on project status for CalSTRS’ leadership teams; controlling, monitoring and adjusting schedules and plans as needed; ensuring quality assurance; and assisting stakeholders in developing and implementing an organizational change management strategy. Expected deliverables or artifacts include the project charter and schedule; communication and risk and issue management plans; a training plan; and a transition and project closeout report.
- Among the administrative qualifications, respondents must have a current IT Consulting Services California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) contract from the California Department of General Services (DGS). Technical qualifications for project personnel include at least five years’ project management experience including “initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and/or closing project processes”; at least three years’ experience using Microsoft Project on schedules; and at least three years’ experience with technology software/application projects which followed “a formal system development lifecycle.” Personnel also need at least three years’ experience using Microsoft Excel, Visio and other analytics tools. Desirable technical qualifications include project manager experience in state and local government; experience in implementing COTS or modified off-the-shelf products with a preference for software as a service; and experience with agile delivery enterprise-wide.
- CalSTRS will only accept one offer per vendor or respondent; respondents shall submit “at least one and no more than two proposed project personnel” for the RFO. CalSTRS may choose personnel from one to four companies. The contract value is not stated. Offers are due by 2 p.m. March 31, and work is estimated to begin in May, June or July. The total contract services period may be as long as three years, with the option to extend it for up to two more. Personnel selected as a result of the RFO will “be under the direction of the CalSTRS chief technology officer or designee and may be assigned one or more teams/programs/projects during the services period.”
