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Table 6: Status Report on Major Crown Projects

Real Time Identification (RTID)

1. Overview

Real Time Identification (RTID) is a re-engineering of systems and processes used for fingerprint identification, civil clearances and criminal records maintenance. It will transform the current paper-based workflow to an electronic workflow, thus enabling the “real time” identification of fingerprints submitted electronically.

Fingerprints are submitted by police agencies to support the creation of a criminal record, or to search the criminal record repository during a criminal investigation or civil security screening. RTID will streamline these services, facilitate information sharing internationally and permit an improved tracking of criminals by condensing identification turnaround times from weeks and months to hours and days.

Funding for the RTID Project was announced on April 20, 2004 under the National Security Policy. Between 2001 and 2004 significant work had been undertaken by a small project team within the RCMP to define RTID requirements and prepare statements of work in anticipation of this announcement.

Following the announcement, a Project Charter was developed and a formal Project Office established under the sponsorship of Information and Identification Services of National Police Services (NPS). The Chief Information Officer (CIO) was appointed Project Leader, responsible for achieving the technology improvements associated with the project.

The project will be completed in two major Phases. Phase 1 which was delivered in 2007, modernized the civil clearance process, by replacing the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and implementing a new transaction manager. The NPS National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Server permits agencies to submit their fingerprint information electronically.

The release of Phase 2 is anticipated in the Spring of 2009, which will replace the antiquated system and modernize the processes related to the management and update of criminal records.

2. Lead and Participating Departments

The RCMP is the lead department on RTID. Various levels of governance will ensure the Project is successful and meets the needs of all stakeholders:

The RCMP Senior Project Advisory Committee, Public Safety Canada (PS) and Central Agency officials provide direction to the Project Leader on all aspects of the project as it relates to government-wide policies, strategic direction and procurement. This includes the review of the scope through the definition procurement strategy.

An RTID Project Steering Committee provides ongoing direction to the project which includes representatives of key Federal Government departments and Central Agencies. Oversight of RTID is also linked to the PS Portfolio Interoperability Committee, thus ensuring the project’s horizontal interests and planned contribution to overall public safety are fully realized.

RTID is a major interoperability initiative of interest to all agencies within the PS portfolio. Its progress and success in contributing to long term interoperability will be monitored by the Heads of Agency Steering Committee through the PS Portfolio Interoperability Committee.

RTID will be used across Canada and in all jurisdictional levels. Stakeholder involvement is required to ensure that the system is functional and fully compliant with regulations. This involvement is ensured through the NPS Advisory Council and Technical Consultative working groups.

3. Prime Contractors / Major Sub-Contractors

The RCMP is using several procurement vehicles for the RTID Project:

• Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Vendor: RTID involves the replacement of the existing AFIS with modern AFIS technology. The AFIS vendor, COGENT Systems, selected via a competitive process, is responsible for the delivery, configuration and implementation of a modern AFIS Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) product.
• Development work that aligns with the RCMP corporate technical architecture is being carried out in-house. The NPS NIST Server, the heart of RTID, is being developed by a team of RCMP resources and contractors. To supplement the skills of internal resources, or to backfill resources seconded to the project, RTID uses internal standing offer vehicles to meet any outstanding demands for project management support. The major contractors are:
  • Veritaaq
  • Fujitsu
  • TPG
• Systems Integration Company: a component of Phase 2 will be contracted out on a fixed price basis to ensure the successful delivery of the multiple components of the phase. Subsequent to the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP), a contract was awarded in January 2008 to Fujitsu Consulting (Canada).

4. Major Milestones

Accomplishments

• Funding for RTID was announced on April 20, 2004 under the National Security Policy.
• The current procurement approach was approved by the Senior Project Advisory Committee in November of 2004.
• On December 13, 2004, the RCMP received Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) approval of its RTID procurement strategy and Preliminary Project Approval at an indicative estimate of $129.8 million to complete development of RTID over 5 years. The source of funds was identified as follows: $99.8 million from Canada’s National Security Policy and $30 million from RCMP funding.
• A Request for Proposal for the AFIS Vendor was issued in January 2005. A contract was awarded to COGENT Systems on October 13, 2005 and work started November 1, 2005.
• On October 3rd, 2005, Effective Project Approval for Phase 1 was awarded by TBS to the RTID project.
• In November 2006, the RTID Project successfully implemented its first release (R0.5) to bring on two civil contributors.
• In March 2007, the RTID Project successfully implemented a subsequent release (R1.0) providing more functionality to the civil fingerprint process.
• On June 14, 2007, Effective Project Approval for Phase 2 was awarded by TBS to the RTID project.
• Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase 2 were published in June 2007.
• A contract for Phase 2 was awarded in January 2008.
• Latent functionality was completed in March 2008.

To be delivered

• Criminal and Refugee workflow to be delivered by Summer 2008.
• The decommission of the old AFIS is planned for Fall 2008.
• The delivery of Phase 2 is planned for 2009 and 2010.
• The project closure is planned for May 2010.

5. Progress Report and Explanation of Variances

Phase 1 work has been split into multiple releases to ensure that the implementation of functionality is successful. The multiple release schedules are anticipated for complete delivery by Summer 2008. The RFP for Phase II was published in June 2007, with a contract awarded in January 2008.

The variance in the schedule is attributable to a delay in awarding the contract for Phase 2.

6. Industrial Benefits

There is no industrial benefits program for the Real Time Identification Project.

Canada Firearms Centre

Table 5: Status Report on Major Crown Projects

Canadian Firearms Information System II

The RCMP assumed responsibility for the Canadian Firearms Information System II (CFIS II) following the government decision in May 2006 to transfer to the RCMP the day to day operations of the Canada Firearms Centre and responsibility and administration of the Canadian Firearms Program. By that time, CFIS II had already been subject to a stop-work order issued by PWGSC. In 2007-2008, TBS approved the RCMP’s final project evaluation report that formally ended the Major Crown Project for the replacement of CFIS.

Description

The Canadian Firearms Information System (CFIS I) is a national system designed to support the administration of the Firearms Act and is supported by EDS Canada Inc. based on a maintenance contract. The current system was put into production on December 1, 1998 and is the single repository for licence and registration information for the Firearms Program. Since December 1, 1998, approximately two million licences have been issued and seven million firearms have been registered. CFIS links all elements of the Canadian Firearms Program including the Central Processing Site in Miramichi, New Brunswick. The system interfaces with the Canada Firearms Registry On-line (CFRO), the Firearms Reference Table (FRT) and the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). CFIS II is a new technical solution involving the development and implementation of a software application to replace CFIS I. It was designated as a Major Crown Project by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in November 2003.

Project Phase

PWGSC issued a notice of default on March 31, 2006. In late April 2006, PWGSC issued a stop work order against CFIS II application development and implementation testing.

Progress Report and Explanations of Variances

The existing CFIS I remains stable and is expected to be operational for up to 5 years within present operating conditions. Upgrades have been implemented to its infrastructure and its functionality. The system is interfacing with all of the other systems required to carry out the operations for CAFC and the Firearms Program. A plan has been developed that will see the transition of CFIS components to employee-based operations by the end of two-year period.

Industrial Benefits

Not applicable

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