Accenture subsidiary Accenture Federal Services recently reported on the receipt of a $618 million task order to improve and modernize the United States Marshals Service’s (USMS) mission-critical IT services over the next seven years.
The task order, awarded via the Alliant 2 Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), is the next step after a previously awarded five-year USMS task order—part of the USMS 2012-2018 Strategic Plan—focused on program management and IT application development services. That contract sought to standardize facility security profiles and requests for resources, as well as implement an evaluation of operational situations against a budget model and staffing matrix to accurately calculate project costs. It also included regularly scheduled budget reviews, audits, and quality assurance reviews as well as the implementation of data validation for incoming information.
The latest scope of work includes continuing the ongoing efforts of case management modernization along with expanding advanced analytics capabilities, mobile application development, and adding cloud, biometrics, and geospatial capabilities. This comprehensive effort supports USMS’ quest to continue the roll-out of emerging technologies such as automation, with the goal of retiring legacy systems, reducing costs, and enhancing security.
The move comes at an opportune time for Accenture, as government agencies continue to feel the cost and operational impacts of legacy IT systems. According to a 2019 study by the Government Accountability Office, critical federal IT legacy systems most in need of modernization ranged from 8 to 51 years old and collectively cost about $337 million annually to operate and maintain. Many agencies struggle to develop documented plans to retire legacy systems, with only a handful utilizing best practices and producing a complete modernization plan.
“Accenture Federal Services understands the critical role the United States Marshals Service plays within the U.S. federal justice system and is thrilled to continue our support for the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency,” said Jenna O’Steen, AFS Managing Director and Justice & Judiciary Sector Lead. “Looking ahead, we’re excited to unlock new insights through the integration of operational data that will increase officer safety and improve overall workforce productivity.”
Accenture Federal Services has a long history of assisting in government IT modernization efforts, and this latest task order looks to help the USMS continue its drive to adapt, improve, and modernize its systems.
