DOT contract pushes paperless

The Transportation Department is taking another step toward a paperless working environment with the planned award of two contracts for document imaging systems by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to an FAA contract announcement.

The first contract with 170 Systems Inc., Cambridge, Mass., will be for an enterprisewide Electronic Document Management and Imaging System with an unlimited license for software and technical support for DOT. The contract will be for five months with four one-year options to extend it.

The other contract with 170 Systems is to install and implement the FAA Southern Region Electronic Document Management and Imaging System Pilot in Atlanta.

Based on a market survey, DOT found that 170 Systems had the only commercial off-the-shelf product with the ability to integrate with Oracle Corp.'s Oracle Financials. DOT is transitioning its accounting and budgeting systems to the Oracle application by June 2001.

Placing all department documents in electronic form will make them automatically auditable during the annual verification of financial statements, said David Kleinberg, DOT's deputy chief financial officer.