A Publication of the Georgia Technology Authority
Governor forms task force to review telecom outsourcing
Governor Sonny Perdue has formed a 15member task force to review telecommunications policy in Georgia and identify a "manageable and sustainable approach" to outsourcing the state's telecommunications services.
Shortly after forming the task force, Governor Perdue also recommended that GTA discontinue the Converged Communications Outsourcing Project (CCOP), which sought to outsource and upgrade state government's telecommunications and information technology services.
The task force is led by G. Wayne Clough, Ph.D., president of the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is expected to issue a written report in April 2003. GTA will assist the task force and offer information gathered from state agencies and local governments about telecommunications and computing requirements, costs and funding.
It will analyze: cost-effective alternatives for improving the delivery of telecommunications services consistent with the business needs of state government cost-effective alternatives for providing distributive computing services and improving their administration potential impact on economic development throughout the state balancing the costs between urban and rural areas and the disparity of services between metropolitan Atlanta and other areas of Georgia enabling state and local government entities to stay current with telecommunications advances without additional capital outlay budget implications, costs and savings.
Task force to gather data, make recommendations
The task force will gather additional information that's needed to make decisions about the future of Georgia's telecommunications infrastructure.
New online services benefit Georgia business owners
The State of Georgia is offering business owners a faster, more convenient way to obtain a state sales tax identification number and a provisional Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN). A national pilot project is making both services available online.
Obtaining a sales tax ID number used to take about three days. Now business owners can simply visit the Georgia state portal at www.georgia.gov and click on the Online Business Registration link. After the appropriate information is entered and processed, an ID number is mailed by the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR).
See Business owners, page 4
In announcing the task force, Governor Perdue said, "It is important for the state to step back and reassess our needs in information technology. In these tough financial times, we have an obligation to identify and implement the most cost-effective solutions for the people of Georgia."
See Task force, page 4
January/February 2003
Volume 2, No. 1
Inside this issue
Revised tech policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
GTA issues state's first IT expenditures report. . . . . . . . . . . . 2
GTA joins state portal . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Vital Records improves customer service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Revised tech policy
makes agency
reviews easier
State agencies are finding it easier to obtain
approvals for certain kinds of technology initia-
tives. That's because they are now able to grant
approvals themselves without GTA involvement.
GTA has revised the Technology Review Policy,
which sets forth requirements for its review of
agency technology initiatives, by delegating the
authority to approve technology initiatives to
each agency's IT coordinator.
As a result, technology initiatives that cost less
than $50,000 and comply with enterprise policies,
standards and requirements are no longer subject
to prior GTA review and approval.
The decision to delegate approval authority
resulted from experience
The revised policy
with the review policy and
enables state agencies to
information gathered
focus their limited resources on initiatives with the greatest impact on operations.
through agency strategic plans and budget requests. The revised policy enables state agencies to focus their
limited resources on initia-
tives with the greatest impact on operations.
GTA is continuing to review technology initia-
tives costing $50,000 or more prior to project
commencement unless they are specifically
exempted in the review policy. GTA review and
approval is required regardless of whether funds
have been made available, the funding source
or who is expected to perform the work.
Tech reviews help state to leverage its purchasing power
Technology reviews help to ensure that proposed expenditures meet agency business needs while identifying opportunities for interoperability and data sharing among agencies. As a result, they enable state government to leverage its purchasing power to obtain the best value on products and services at the lowest cost.
Procedures for GTA's review of agency requests for technology will remain unchanged. GTA will continue to complete technology reviews within 25 calendar days whenever feasible. GTA account managers will also continue to acknowledge receipt of agency requests, facilitate their timely review and alert agencies whenever a review may extend beyond 25 calendar days.
See Tech policy, page 4
GTA issues state's first
IT expenditures report
GTA has issued a report about information technology expenditures in Georgia state agencies for FY 2002. For the first time, the report makes it possible to easily see how much is spent on IT to support specific categories of government services.
The purpose of the report is to ensure accurate budgeting and accounting for IT expenditures. State law requires GTA to collect information about IT expenditures from agencies each year and compile a report for distribution to state leaders.
For FY 2002, agencies reported spending a total of $442.5 million on information technology. State funds accounted for $217.45 million of the total amount with the remainder coming primarily from the federal government. These amounts do not include expenditures by the Board of Regents, Department of Labor or for electronic voting machines.
The largest amount--$196.2 million, or 44.3 percent of total expenditures--was spent on health and human services. Other service categories, amounts and percentages are
general government: $109.63 million or 24.78 percent
public safety: $60.56 million or 13.69 percent
physical and economic development: $49.47 million or 11.18 percent
education: $26.61 million or 6.01 percent.
IT expenditures include staff, hardware, software, telecom and data services, and computer supplies.
The full report, which covers several hundred pages, is available on GTA's Web site at www.gta.georgia.gov.
Fast Forward
Georgia
Page 2
GTA joins state portal
If you need information or services from GTA, you no longer have to wade through organization charts or division descriptions. Officially launched on January 15, the new GTA Web site has joined Georgia's state portal, following its style of emphasizing service to Georgia's citizens over bureaucratic organization.
GTA's site, www.gta.georgia.gov, offers easy access to services available through GTA, current news, updates about technology initiatives, statewide technology policies, procurement opportunities and careers with GTA.
The state portal at www.georgia.gov is developed and maintained by the GeorgiaNet division of GTA and provides links to all state agencies. Although most links go to state Web sites that were already in existence, GeorgiaNet encourages each agency to develop a direct presence on the portal. GTA joins the Department of Human Resources, which was the first agency
to place its site on the portal. The new Office of the Inspector General is slated to make an appearance in the next few weeks.
"GTA's new site has more substance and input from throughout GTA, as well as a focus on what we do and how we help Georgia government work better," said Andy Rogers of GTA's communications office, manager of the site. "Our old site didn't accurately reflect who we are now. It was GTA in startup mode."
"Georgia has been a leader in state Web development, but the challenge is to remain at the forefront," said GeorgiaNet's Creative Vision Director Bill Overall. "As the agency responsible for developing and maintaining the portal, I believe it's important for GTA's Web site to serve as an example for other agencies in Georgia and nationally."
GTA's new Web site focuses on what we do and how we help Georgia government work better.
Fast Forward
Georgia
Page 3
Task force, from page 1
GTA received CCOP bids from two vendors on November 15, 2002. However, one of the vendors--a team known as enVisionGeorgia with IBM as prime vendor and Sprint, Resource Network International and Enterasys as key subcontractors--withdrew January 3, 2003, citing fluctuation in the telecommunications industry and an uncertain economic environment.
The second bidder was ConnectGeorgia, another bid team composed of BellSouth, AT&T, Electronic Data Systems and its key subcontractors, Cingular Wireless, Cisco Systems, Information Management Systems and Science Applications International Corporation.
As originally proposed, CCOP was estimated at $1.8 billion over 10 years. The RFP issued in 2002 covered local, long distance, and wireless phone services; high-speed online access; local area networks; and personal computing equipment and support for state government offices and public school systems.
Task force includes leaders from throughout Georgia
G. Wayne Clough, Ph.D., president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, chairs the Governor's telecom task force. The other 14 members are
Dave Baker, Vice President, Law and Public Policy - Earthlink, Inc.
Joe Bankoff, Partner - King and Spalding Roy Campbell, Former Mayor -
Thomasville Steve Chaddick, Senior Vice President -
CIENA Corporation Dick Cook, President & CEO - Mapics James Edenfield, President and CEO -
American Software, Inc. Bryant K. Isaacs, President, Network
Technologies - ARRIS James Lester, CIO - AFLAC and
Chairman - GTA Board of Directors Jeff Lukken, Mayor of LaGrange and
Owner - Lukken Chevrolet Tom Noonan, Chairman, President and
CEO - Internet Security Systems Todd Tibbetts, CFO - Tibs Group, Inc. James Tysinger, Retired Former State
Senator Joanne Walter, Vice President, Strategic
Marketing - NCR Retail Division Hart Williford, CEO - Verisign Corporation
Business owners, from page 1
At the same time, business owners also can apply for a provisional FEIN, a process that formerly required more than 90 minutes to fill out forms and additional time for processing. The online application takes only minutes to complete, and the provisional FEIN is assigned immediately.
"We are glad to be able to offer this new service to Georgia business owners," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "In addition to speeding the application process, the new online systems reduce the need to visit a state or federal office and offer the convenience of applying anytime of the day or night."
Georgia is one of two states selected to participate in the pilot project to integrate online business registration and the FEIN application. DOR and GTA collaborated on the project with the federal Small Business Administration (SBA), which provided the funding. EzGov, which specializes in electronic government services, developed the application using Georgia's business requirements. SBA plans to offer the service to other states.
Georgia's Web portal is a single point of access to online government information and services. Available services include online driver's license renewal and "Where's my child's check," which enables parents to go online to check the status of their child support payments. Other services will be added.
Tech policy, from page 2
All technology acquisitions--including those exempt from GTA review or costing less than $50,000--are subject to the bidding and purchase process outlined in the Technology Procurement Policy, Release No. 3.
On the Web at www.gta.georgia.gov Technology Review Policy, Release No. 3 Technology Procurement Policy, Release No. 3 Agency Request for Technology Form (State agencies use the form to submit information to GTA about proposed technology initiatives.)
Fast Forward
Georgia
Page 4
Vital Records improves customer service with advanced voice mail system
Vital Records recently completed phase one
automated menu if they want to speak with a
of a three-phase project to re-engineer its exist-
customer support representative.
ing operations. As a result, customers are now
Before the system was installed, only one
able to obtain information quickly and easily
telephone operator was available to answer four
through an automated telephone information
incoming phone lines. Mr. Mills said an estimat-
system.
ed 18 percent of calls were "dropped" either
"Being able to get what you want by hitting a
through unsuccessful transfers or because
couple of buttons saves
callers got tired of wait-
customers a great deal
ing and hung up. Three
of time," said Matt
full-time customer sup-
Mills, deputy director
port representatives are
of Vital Records.
now able to spend more
"Automated solutions
time answering ques-
are an important part of
tions about birth certifi-
our package of cus-
cates, marriage licenses
tomer service offerings."
and other records.
GTA assisted Vital
"Our staff was over-
Records in selecting and
whelmed by the number
purchasing the new system. GTA technicians also installed the system. Implementation was completed a month
Vital Records' new automated information system features a menu providing quick access to recorded messages for callers needing basic information. Priscia White (above) can now spend more time with callers who need additional assistance.
of telephone calls," Mr. Mills said. "We knew a significant amount of their time was spent answering basic ques-
ahead of schedule and under budget.
tions, like how to find our office. The new system
The larger project to re-engineer Vital
frees up staff to work with people who need
Records' business processes and support them
other kinds of help."
with new technology is the vision of Michael
Another benefit of the new system is its ability
Lavoie, state registrar and director of Vital
to generate management information reports.
Records. He's now moving forward with phase
The system traces each call to see what type of
two, which calls for installing a new state-of-the-
information and which work units callers are
art document imaging and management system
selecting from the automated menu.
to convert paper documents to electronic format.
"If we know a particular unit is receiving twice
Eventually, the public will be able to obtain
as many calls as another, we can allocate more
copies of various vital event documents over the
resources," Mr. Mills said. "We have data to sup-
state Web portal.
port our decision making."
The system even displays a "voice mail viewer"
Using technology to improve
on a computer screen, enabling staff to track
customer service
current activity on all nine lines as calls are
Vital Records receives an average of 1,300 calls each day. The new system, which can answer and respond to nine calls simultaneously,
answered and routed as menu options are selected.
See Vital Records, page 6
is now managing more than half of all calls. It's
the first voice mail/automated attendant system
of its type in state government and the most
technologically advanced.
Customers who need basic information--
such as office hours or directions--can select
from a menu to activate pre-recorded messages
in English or Spanish. The system is available 24
hours a day, seven days a week. During routine
office hours, customers can also opt out of the
Matt Mills points to an online database of frequently asked questions, still under development, that telephone operators at Vital Records can quickly access when answering calls. "The whole idea is to provide information to the public as fast as possible so they can be on their way," he said.
Fast Forward
Georgia
Page 5
GTA board names Wade
acting director, CIO
Tom Wade has been named acting executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority and state chief information officer by GTA's Board of Directors. His appointment was effective December 10, 2002.
Mr. Wade has been GTA's chief operating officer since July 2000. His career in public service includes many years with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, where he held the positions of assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner. "GTA will continue in the direction set by its guiding principles," Mr. Wade said. "I am mindful of how important our day-to-day work is, and we will stay on course to achieve our goals and objectives." While Mr. Wade serves as acting executive director, Cigdem Delano assumes his responsibilities as chief operating officer. Ms. Delano will coordinate the work of several groups focusing on streamlining GTA's processes.
Vital Records, from page 5
"We can see the call when it comes in, where it goes, who they talk to and when they hang up," said David Sands, who oversaw the project for GTA.
Technology alone won't ensure success
New technology and business processes alone won't transform an organization, Mr. Mills said. It also takes commitment from employees. When Vital Records began its project to redesign business processes, it also launched a new program to give employees a more active voice in their workplace. The program is called "Great Place to Work" and is lead by a team of Vital Records employees who are making a positive difference.
"The program is creating a more receptive attitude toward new technology and business processes," said Jerry Norris, who is consulting with Vital Records on the project.
Mr. Mills added, "We have been able to design features for the new system that people who are actually doing the job feel are important. When you unleash creativity in people, it's amazing what they can do to make things better for their jobs and our customers."
Fast Forward Georgia
Published bi-monthly and available online at www.gta.georgia.gov 100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-463-2300, FAX 404-463-2370
Paula Calhoun and Michael Clark, Editors; Hettie Smith, Designer
GTA Division & Office Directors
Tom Wade Acting CIO & GTA Executive Director, twade@gta.ga.gov Steve Nichols Chief Technology Officer & Deputy Director, snichols@gta.ga.gov Cigdem Delano Assistant Director, cdelano@gta.ga.gov Chris Tomlinson Assistant to the CIO for Policy, ctomlinson@gta.ga.gov Roosevelt Council Chief Financial Officer & Director, Financial Division, councilr@gta.ga.gov
Renee Herr Chief Network Officer & Director, Telecommunications Division, rherr@gta.ga.gov Gina Tiedemann Director, GeorgiaNet Division, gtiedemann@gta.ga.gov Derrick Wheeler Director, Information Resources Management Division, dwheeler@gta.ga.gov Joyce Goldberg Director, Office of Communications, jgoldberg@gta.ga.gov Danette Joslyn-Gaul General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, dgaul@gta.ga.gov
Peggy Joyner Director, Office of Program Management, pjoyner@gta.ga.gov Candy Kidd Director, Office of Account Management, ckidd@gta.ga.gov
Sondra Rhoades-Johnson Director, Office of External Affairs/Business Development, sondrarj@gta.ga.gov Beverly Walker Director, Office of Human Resources, bwalker@gta.ga.gov
Robert Woodruff Director, Office of Technology, woodruff@gta.ga.gov Bob Wynn State Chief Information Security Officer & Director, Office of Information Security, gwynn@gta.ga.gov
Fast Forward
Georgia
Page 6