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Flexible GETS service delivery platform holds promise in 2016
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Travel back to this time last year, and you'd find us gearing up to add an MSI to GETS. It would be a couple of months still before we named Capgemini as multisourcing service integrator and another six months before Capgemini started operations. They were exciting times, marked by a steady stream of challenges, each overcome through impressive teamwork, and a shared sense of commitment among our GETS agencies, GETS service providers and GTA.
As we step into 2016, the promise of returns for our hard work to date still shines bright. We're a ways yet from seeing the full improvements we will see from the MSI approach and the flexible, nimble GETS service delivery platform that underpins it.
New tools are already yielding benefits in areas such as incident management where we're seeing improvement in follow up and communication with agencies. Improvements will continue to take shape this year, all of them made possible by the solid GETS foundation we've labored together to build. It leaves me expecting good things for the GETS community in the year ahead. I know that's what all of us want to see.
Here at the start of January, Capgemini has put additional capabilities into operation. Key among those is incorporating managed network services (telephone, data and related services) and our primary MNS provider AT&T fully into the MSI model. You may remember that similar work with IBM began last year on the computing services side. Capgemini is also newly engaged in providing a slate of secondary IT services, including capacity management, risk management, operating level agreement (OLA) measurement and disaster recovery testing. These complement and extend the high visibility duties (service desk and service catalog among them) Capgemini assumed last August.
As you well appreciate, an MSI plays an essential role in seeing that the state reaps the true rewards of multisourcing service integration. In partnership with Capgemini, we will see that role realized more fully in 2016. It's worth noting again, though, MSI itself is not the goal. Instead, it's what MSI and the flexible GETS platform can win for us: improved service delivery, greater readiness to capitalize on innovative IT services and increased transparency of IT expenditures. That's what we're after as we continue to groom a GETS program that best delivers the IT services you need to support your agency's business.
In the year ahead we'll continue that quest. Looming large on the horizon is our planned rebid of infrastructure services including server, storage, mainframe, end user computing and print services. It became tangible when in mid-December we published a request for qualified contractors (RFQC). The RFQC is the formal procurement vehicle that lets us learn what the IT marketplace is offering and then identify providers qualified to deliver what the state needs.
It's big work. And just like the MSI selection and transition efforts that preceded it, this infrastructure services rebid requires your input to be successful. You lived it with last year's MNS procurements too. State agencies will be the primary users of these services, and GTA will encourage your participation in bringing the best chosen services to GETS. Thanks in advance for your partnership.
New year. New opportunities to deliver IT services that make a real difference for state agencies and for Georgians. Lots to look forward to.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Calvin Rhodes
State Chief Information Officer
GTA Executive Director
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Seeking IT market's input for GETS computing services
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The ongoing Services Integration Initiative for the GETS program takes new focus in 2016 with GTA rebidding infrastructure services (end user computing, servers, storage, mainframe, and print). In an early step in that competitive procurement process, GTA issued a request for qualified contractors (RFQC) in mid-December.
Through the RFQC, published on the Georgia Procurement Registry, GTA seeks input from the IT market on available services that could meet the state's needs. Importantly, the services need to be well suited to support a GETS service delivery model tuned and ready to introduce innovative services to meet agencies' changing business needs.
Beyond gauging market offerings, the RFQC will allow qualification of providers capable of delivering the kinds of services needed by the GETS IT enterprise. Those qualified would continue in discussion in subsequent stages of the procurement process.
Services being re-procured are provided today by IBM under a contract set to expire in 2017.
GTA will once again encourage state agencies to participate in the procurement. As primary consumers of the infrastructure services, their input is invaluable. Success in the recent GETS multisourcing service integrator (MSI) procurement and managed network services procurements was built on this same kind of agency involvement.
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MSI extends its reach to full range of GETS IT services
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Don't tell GETS multisourcing service integrator (MSI) Capgemini they're just now fully into the program. They'll beg your pardon and maybe even show you bruises (mostly fading) from knocking around in the GETS ring for the final third of 2015.
They've stayed off the ropes and on their feet through a wobble or two, sure. The MSI has momentum, and here in January they're showing their full repertoire as GETS service integrator.
With GTA, IBM and the other GETS service providers in its corner, Capgemini now extends its MSI service coordination role into the managed network services side of GETS. That means telephone, data and related services. And, it means AT&T - primary provider of those services - is hooked in. Capgemini and AT&T will use a common platform of tools, processes and performance expectations to serve GETS agencies.
These are the same tools and processes shared among all GETS service providers. Operating from this common platform is how the MSI coordinates services across multiple providers. It builds a common way of doing business. For GETS agencies that should translate to smooth delivery of well-integrated IT services.
Capgemini also now takes responsibility for a slate of secondary IT processes - capacity management, risk management, operating level agreement (OLA) measurement and disaster recovery testing among them. Many of these are behind-the-scenes capabilities, but key complements to IT functions the MSI already addresses.
For the GETS general user, Capgemini will continue to be best known as Service Desk operator, a role they took on in late August. Other work already under Capgemini's belt involves GETS service catalog, GETS Portal web services site and incident management.
Accompanying the latest MSI transition work, support for a number of key data center services transfers from IBM to AT&T Retail. This includes management of firewalls, intrusion protection services and data center networking equipment.
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- GTA recently hosted delegates from the Virginia state government's central IT organization - the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Like Georgia, Virginia has a large IT services sourcing agreement with outside providers. VITA is looking into how to include more providers and services and introduce greater transparency, flexibility and innovation. During their Atlanta visit they spoke with GTA leaders and GETS agencies about the recent addition of a multisourcing service integrator (MSI) to the GETS model serving Georgia's state IT enterprise.
Also in late 2015 GTA hosted a visit from 19 faculty and staff from the Shanghai Administration Institute, which offers training to professionals in government in China. The Chinese delegation's stop at GTA was one of many during a two-week stay that also included visits to Georgia Tech, the Technology Association of Georgia and several IT firms.
- Beginning in January, the GETS multisourcing service integrator Capgemini will re-introduce the Password Reset Automation Service (PRAS) tool for GETS agencies. Two PRAS options will become available: 1) Reset your password online using the web option, or 2) Reset your password by phone using the voice recognition option. These convenient self-service paths for resetting your password or unlocking your account apply to network passwords (the one used to sign on to your computer and to access the new GETS Portal).
- IDG's Computer World selected Calvin Rhodes, Georgia State CIO and GTA Executive Director, as a 2016 Premier 100 Technology Leaders honoree. The national honor spotlights leaders for their exceptional technology leadership and innovative approaches to business challenges. It recognizes those using technology to transform their organizations and ensuring readiness to capitalize quickly on emerging technology to address changing business needs.
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