DOD preps personnel system
Draft RFP posted for a streamlined human resources system that will replace 88 legacy systems
DIMHRS draft request for proposal
The Defense Department has posted a draft request for proposals for a massive system that would streamline pay and personnel systems for all uniformed employees across the military services.
The proposal request seeks an integrator that would be responsible for implementing the Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System (DIMHRS), which is expected to cost at least $500 million, according to Federal Sources Inc., a McLean, Va., market research firm.
The system, when fully deployed by the end of fiscal 2006, will provide a fully integrated human resources system for active and reserve military personnel — but not DOD civilians — in all components of the military services, said Navy Capt. Valerie Carpenter, DIMHRS program manager.
The system will replace 88 legacy systems across the four armed services, she said. The new system, in addition to providing improved personnel services, also will save money across DOD by reducing the cost of maintaining outdated, nonintegrated personnel and pay systems, she said.
When completed, DOD will have one database that maintains personnel and pay records for the uniformed personnel, and it largely will replace paper processes with more efficient electronic processes, she said.
The draft of the proposal was issued earlier this month and already has drawn several comments, Carpenter said. DOD officials have not determined when the final proposal request will be issued or when DOD will make an award for the system. It could be as soon as summer, however, officials confirmed.
According to the current schedule, the Army will be the first to deploy DIMHRS. The Army is committed to replace its current personnel system with DIMHRS by mid-fiscal 2004, Carpenter said.
The integrator will be required to deploy PeopleSoft Inc. software, as selected by DOD last year. The new human resource system also will be designed to operate with DOD's financial systems.
Carpenter said that DOD is making an effort to reform business processes rather than attempting to change the commercial software, something that is widely seen as a critical step in the successful implementation of an human resource system.