DC Courts - Disciplined Processes Critical to Successful System Acquisition: Gao-02-316 (Paperback)

The District of Columbia Courts (DC Courts) is acquiring the Integrated Justice Information System (IJIS) to replace many nonintegrated systems. This system is expected to address current deficiencies and provide the courts with necessary information critical to its mission. DC Courts has not yet implemented the disciplined processes necessary to reduce the risks associated with acquiring and managing the IJIS acquisition effort at acceptable levels within established resources and schedule. Most of the DC Courts' requirements, developed in the draft request for proposal, lacked the specificity needed to ensure that requirements had been reduced to acceptable levels and the system would meet users' needs. DC Courts officials want to use the acquisition process to identify the cost, schedule, and performance gaps associated with their effort. DC Courts officials acknowledge that this approach increases risk; however, they believe that accelerating the implementation of a badly needed system justifies those risks. As with any effort, alternative approaches need to be analyzed.