Executive Council
June 15, 2015

Improving IT Practices

Government Commits to Review OCIO Work Procedures

The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, announced today a Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued to complete a review into the Provincial Government's IT work practices.

"In his most recent report, the Auditor General identified some concerning issues related to IT work practices within the OCIO. These practices are unacceptable and as minister responsible, I am ensuring that addressing these issues is a priority. We accept all the recommendations of the Auditor General, and in some cases work has already started. For example, the OCIO has already implemented new practices to ensure better oversight of IT related projects. To complement the recommendations of the Auditor General, our government is moving forward with an independent review of OCIO practices to ensure mechanisms are in place to effectively manage procurement and cost management."
- The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer

The RFP will determine if work procedures in place today reflect industry best practice and what improvements are required to ensure policies and methodologies support a delivery model based on these best practices.

Some of the changes that the OCIO has already made to improve its work practices include:

• Improving documentation of system requirements;
• Improving government and vendor understanding of data exchanges and processes between new and existing government systems;
• Improving RFP documentation;
• Ensuring that appropriate approvals are in place prior to work on any project commencing;
• Requiring vendors to provide full details for travel invoices so that the details can be reviewed and ensure they are in compliance with government policy before the invoice is paid; and
• Engaging legal counsel for direction, reference, and confirmation related to construction, evaluation and award of RFPs.

"As a government, we welcome the work of the Auditor General and continue to work on addressing all recommendations. Our government is committed to ensuring that programs and services are delivered in the most efficient and effective manner possible for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians."
- Minister Wiseman

The RFP is available at www.gpa.gov.nl.ca/gs/report/TenderGS.asp?conRFQ=RFPOCIO1516005.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to review the Office of the Chief Information Officer's (OCIO) IT work practices.
• The RFP will determine if work procedures in place today reflect industry best practice and what improvements are required to ensure policies and methodologies support a delivery model based on these best practices.
• This review will act upon the recommendations contained in the June 2015 Auditor General's report.

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Media contact:

Vanessa Colman-Sadd Director of Communications Office of the Chief Information Officer 709-729-1495, 682-6593 vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2015 06 15                              5:00 p.m.