I cannot begin to understand all of this, but it appears that Social Security is seeking a vendor to do a study on how the agency can reorganize its massive system of databases. I would imagine the study contract alone would be a big one and the contract to do the actual work would be humongous. Can anyone with more knowledge help me out here?
Offering help but not an inside opinion.
ReplyDeleteAppears to be related to the agency strategic plan referred to here about a month ago. Don't know what you mean by takeover.
Strategic plan goal was to improve national database ie to eliminate inefficiencies in maintaining multiple databases many of which were stovepiped because of the historical evolution and different components that created the databases having different needs. If nothing else think of the fact that you have multiple databases in each state because of the uniqueness of the 50 state DDS adjudicatory system. That's just one example. Think of another - eg, linking in to birth certificates and the extent to which each state has a different system.
Looks like they are merely seeking economies to be gained as a result of consolidation.
this is just a guess of course
Here is a link to a summary of one of the studies recommending major changes in the SSA database structure to support future SSA efforts to modernize and utilize online services. The full report provides considerable detail about the difficulties involved in working with the current data structure, contrasted with the general progress made in industries like financial services and banking when it comes to modernizing systems. It is an independent study that makes an excellent case for modernization of the databases and it is about time that SSA begin serious evaluation and investment in the future.
ReplyDeletehttp://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11920