FBI awards Trilogy part 2

The FBI has awarded the second half of the Trilogy project — its three-year, multimillion-dollar modernization plan — to Science Applications International Corp.

FBI officials said Trilogy lays the groundwork for fixing the bureau's antiquated information technology infrastructure, blamed for the failure to keep track of thousands of documents linked to the investigation of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

The bureau awarded the first half of the Trilogy project to DynCorp, Reston, Va., last month. San Diego-based SAIC's component of the Trilogy project covers user applications, FBI officials said.

"Trilogy will give agents and support personnel enhanced capabilities in their efforts to efficiently conduct investigations," FBI Director Louis Freeh said.

SAIC officials said Trilogy, formerly known as eFBI, will improve the ability of FBI agents to manage and access investigative information.

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) has renewed his criticism of the FBI's e-mail surveillance tool, formerly known as Carnivore.

In a June 14 letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Armey urged the Justice Department to re-examine Carnivore in light of a recent Supreme Court decision reaffirming the need for police to obtain warrants before using high-tech devices to gather information about activities in a private home.

Armey said there is a parallel between Carnivore, since renamed DCS-1000, and technologies discussed in the court's decision. He asked Ashcroft to determine if Carnivore will "similarly undermine the minimum expectation that individuals have that their personal electronic communications will not be examined by law enforcement devices, unless a specified court warrant has been issued."