Technology Acquisition
As technology becomes more complex and organizations commit more resources to IT, many find it increasingly difficult to carry out large-scale technology acquisitions without outside assistance. NYSTEC has the knowledge and the expertise to guide your organization through the entire acquisition process, from requirements analysis to RFP preparation through vendor implementation. As a not-for-profit engineering company, NYSTEC acts as your trusted advisor, instituting a comprehensive process to help you plan and manage any large-scale acquisition of an IT or communications system.
No organizations have more experience with technology procurement than those of the U.S. military. Thanks to NYSTEC’s close relationship with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, the company has been able to dissect the DOD’s acquisition process and identify its most successful methodologies. Drawing from these methodologies, as well as industry best practices, NYSTEC has devised an end-to-end acquisition strategy for state and local agencies. This proven process will bring engineering discipline to your project, ensuring that you acquire the best, most-affordable technology.
Program Management Process
System Integration Management
NYSTEC refers to its Program Management Process as System Integration Management (SIM). This process involves the six phases described below.
Project Planning
Before your organization embarks on any technology acquisition, you must arrive at a complete understanding of the outcome you wish to achieve. NYSTEC will assist in developing a vision, strategic framework, and schedules to guide your procurement process. This planning phase involves development of the following:
• Acquisition Vision,
• Mission Needs Statement,
• Configuration Management Plan,
• Risk Management Plan,
• Operational Concept Description,
• Request for Information (RFI) and Response Review,
• Acquisition Plan, and
• Quality Assurance Plan.
Requirements Definition
Regardless of the acquisition, the most significant phase is always the assessment of needs. This is essentially a brainstorming process that results in a list of functional requirements for the proposed technology solution. NYSTEC will guide you via the following steps:
• Format Definition and Preparation;
• Requirements Identification, Integration and Prioritization;
• Project Cost Estimation; and
• Management Review.
Solicitation Management
Once your requirements are defined, ranked, and documented, NYSTEC will help you develop a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) that provides the detailed specifications and Service Level Agreements required to meet your needs. In addition, NYSTEC will assist in the development of a detailed Source Selection Plan (SSP) that describes the proposal evaluation criteria and processes to be used in the evaluation of the vendor responses to the RFP. The RFP and SSP form the basis of the information required for the procurement record, and include detailed templates to record vendor scoring during the evaluation process. The steps undertaken for the development of the RFP and SSP include:
• RFP and Mini-Bid Planning and Development,
• Review and Update the RFP or Mini-Bid,
• Develop a Source Selection Plan, and
• Score and Evaluate Vendor Responses.
Implementation Management
Once a vendor has been selected and the project initiated, NYSTEC will help you monitor and manage the project using the latest qualitative and quantitative techniques. The company’s tracking and oversight activities include:
• Project Management Support,
• Engineering Support,
• Requirements Management Support, and
• Testing Support.
Transition Management
When it comes to any technology acquisition, NYSTEC is just as attentive to the human side as the technical. Transitioning to a new system is often traumatic for your employees and customers. NYSTEC can help your organization make a smooth adjustment through proper system planning, coordination with the vendor, testing, and training. This phase includes:
• Transition Management Planning,
• Acceptance Testing Support,
• Training Support, and
• Cut-Over and Roll-Out.
Ongoing Support
NYSTEC’s support does not end when the new system is up and running. NYSTEC will help you evaluate and learn from the entire acquisition process, and make sure you have the proper tools and procedures in place to manage the new system. Ongoing support includes the following:
• Identifying Lessons Learned;
• Final Review of Vendor Deliverables;
• Ongoing Testing, Systems Engineering, and Quality Assurance; and
• Assimilation of Future Technologies.