State's Consular Affairs plans software upgrade

The State Department plans to upgrade the software that supports its visa, U.S. citizen services and passport systems, according to a notice from the department.

State’s Office of Consular Systems and Technology has plans for a development, modernization and enhancement project to bolster its automated systems, according to an announcement published on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. The office plans to hold a pre-solicitation industry day on Feb 11.

The project would include developing new information technology solutions, modernizing and enhancing existing IT, and maintaining software, State officials said. Some objectives include:

• Flexible access to the Consular Consolidated Database.
• Increased access to other government databases.
• Common interfaces and functionality for all users.
• Comprehensive reporting management tools.
• Increased internal controls for personally identifiable information.

Department officials said they intend to award blanket purchase agreements to three to five contractors for software engineering and support services. Task orders would then be competed for approved projects. State officials plan to use the General Services Administration’s IT Schedule 70 for the procurement.