Live testing soon for Virtual Case File

Live operational testing of the FBI's Virtual Case File application will begin in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., field offices starting in January 2005, said Zalmai Azmi, FBI chief information officer.

New Orleans has "been very active in the [VCF] from the get go," Azmi told Federal Computer Week today. VCF, the software application that completes the Trilogy modernization effort, will allow agents to search, analyze and compile case information.

Between 300 and 500 people will start using the application to handle case management workflow as part of an operational pilot program, Azmi said.

"We will be involved with the users on a daily basis," he said. "We're going to have conference calls at least once a week."

Program office officials have not yet completed a set of matrix tables to measure the modernized application's performance, he added

Azmi also said he has limited new FBI investment in information technology until bureau officials develop better integrated investment plans and the emerging enterprise architecture. "We are looking at mission critical systems, and moving forward [only] on that," he said.

The Government Accountability Office had recommended Azmi do so following an audit released this month that found a lack of an integrated plan for the FBI's $1 billion IT modernization effort had led to redundant procurement.