Change the way NC awards software contracts

Published March 5, 2014

Editorial by Fayetteville Observer, March 3, 2014.

Department of Motor Vehicles computers that handle inspection reports aren't working correctly. The system is delaying or losing tens of thousands of vehicle inspections monthly.

Emails point to logic and coding problems with software, called MILES, which DMV had Opus Inspection install last year for $6.2 million. DMV says Opus never finished, so the state stopped paying, with nearly $4 million outstanding. But taxpayers already paid too much.

Software malfunctions keep burning state agencies. NC FAST fouled up food stamps. PowerSchool can't get students' transcripts right. The state nixed a $90 million contract for the Department of Revenue's TIMS software that never worked right. The contractor in that case was Montreal-based CGI, which also created the Affordable Care Act website.

PowerSchool owner Pearson is based in London, NC FAST contractor Accenture in Dublin, Ireland, and Opus in Sweden.

But our government is in Raleigh, adjacent to Research Triangle Park, which our economic marketers describe as a global hotspot for technical minds and innovation. Why are we outsourcing to companies around the world?

Maybe we need to look at how the state awards software contracts. We don't have to do every project locally, but hiring homegrown programming wizards as consultants to vet contractors might help address the logic problems in our coding.

http://www.fayobserver.com/opinion/article_9ac6ee4f-0a3f-5f40-909d-95b39d8bff08.html