ICE Is Consolidating IT Systems to a Single Vendor Platform

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, or ERO, is planning to consolidate its IT systems—currently spread across 26 platforms—into a single architecture on the ServiceNow platform.

The agency released a request for information this week seeking feedback on improving the Custody Management Division’s case management system. That system is used to track detainees across various enforcement programs, including the Alternatives To Detention, or ATD, programs.

The ERO IT shop is working on a full architecture modernization effort designed to, among other things, “bring efficiencies [to] the ATD lifecycle” and make sure new apps deployed on agency networks integrate with other IT services and tools without disrupting their operations.

The draft performance work statement notes this course of action was urged by the Government Accountability Office, which “recommended that ICE upgrade the IT architecture and utilize a case management system that can manage workflow—i.e. confirm cases are initiated, routed, processed, and closed—and provide the ability to produce related reports all in a singular data system.”

The winning vendor will be expected to handle every aspect of the app development process, including “the execution of requirements gathering and analysis, code development, testing, configuration, deployment, administration, federal staff user training, monitoring, and any update maintenance during the contract period of the entire project,” according to the PWS.

The work should also include the use of emerging technologies and development best practices, such as “artificial intelligence/machine learning, robotics process automation, along with business process reengineering as a part of the design and systems buildout.”

All of this is to be done using agile development standards, the documents state.

The contract includes multiple other tasks beyond the ATD system, most of which include replatforming existing systems onto ServiceNow. Those systems will be moving off of Microsoft SharePoint, Access and Excel systems.

As part of the contract, “The prime contractor or their subcontractor must hold a current ServiceNow Elite certification status” and be able to provide the associated personnel to work on ServiceNow platforms.

The contract is set to run for one year, with two one-year add-on options.

Responses to the RFI are due by 5 p.m. June 18. Questions are due by noon on June 17.