For
the last twenty
five years efforts
have been underway
to achieve a
common information
system for Ontario’s
Child Welfare
system. In the
early years the
technology was
a major barrier
to successfully
developing the
system. Over
the years there
have been a number
of Child Welfare
sponsored and
Ministry sponsored
efforts to achieve
the goal of a
common information
system. For a
variety of reasons
the efforts of
many people never
achieved the
desired outcome.
Several
years ago a number
of Children’s
Aid Society (CAS)
Executive Directors
got together
to see if, one
more time, they
might have success
at developing
a common information
system. They
began by reviewing
the current systems
and decided that
none of those
systems could
fulfill the needs
of a province
wide, enterprise
system. The decision
was made to determine
if there were
other systems
in Canada or
around the world
that might meet
our needs.
At
that time we
engaged the services
of Chartwell
to assist in
the search for
existing systems.
This research
yielded positive
results and,
along with indications
from Government
that there might
be funding for
the system this
time, an RFP
process was begun.
Again, Chartwell
was engaged to
lead this process.
The development
of the Request
for Proposal,
including a comprehensive
set of business
data, reporting
and technical
requirements
was completed
as a draft RFP
towards the end
of May. The final
RFP was then
developed and
released on MERX
towards the middle
of July. It has
been said many
times, by a number
of people who
have considerable
experience in
this process,
that the RFP
developed by
Chartwell was
one of the best
they had ever
seen.
Funding
was procured,
the RFP was posted
and Chartwell
was once again
engaged to lead
the selection
of the successful
vendor. A very
successful vendor
briefing occurred
and vendor questions
and answers were
published shortly
thereafter. Six
(6) proposals
were received
by the RFP closing
time on the RFP
closing date
of August 8,
2005. An extremely
vigorous process
was followed
from training
the evaluation
team to making
the final selection,
resulting in
a process that
was judged to
be eminently
fair and thorough.
It also resulted
in the selection
of a vendor who
we believe will
succeed with
the development
of a Single Information
System for child
welfare in Ontario.
Chartwell’s
Procurement Management
Service provided
the OACAS with
a rigorous, defensible
approach and
methodology,
which ensured
that the acquisition
would meet the
CASs business
requirements,
provide the best
value for the
money and guarantee
the integrity
of the procurement
process. The
commitment of
Chartwell’s
staff to the
success of the
project and the
superb relationship
that evolved
between Chartwell
and the CAS professionals
contributed extensively
to the positive
outcome of this
project .
With
assistance from
Chartwell, the
OACAS and the
Children’s
Aid Societies
managed to develop
a comprehensive
Request for Proposal
for a Single
Information System
and procure a
solution that
will meet both
today’s
needs and tomorrow’s
directions! The
successful implementation
of the SIS Solution
will not only
benefit the CASs
but will also
serve as the
model for other
Child Welfare
organizations. |
