DSS plans a move out of legacy systems

The Defense Security Service needs an enterprise system to coordinate clearance monitoring, detect possible insider threats and other tasks.

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WHAT: A new enterprise system for the Defense Security Service.

WHY: The DSS is, among other things, in charge of the National Industrial Security Program, a single system established in 1993 by executive order to safeguard classified information held by contractors at cleared facilities. The agency, part of the Defense Department, is in need of an enterprise system to coordinate clearance monitoring, the processing of facility clearances and subsequent inspections, detect possible insider threats, and handle incident response. According to a recently issued request for information, "the lack of an enterprise IT solution results in cumbersome, inefficient and exceedingly manual processes that jeopardize the success of DSS missions." According to the RFI, legacy systems are "hampering the agency's ability to provide timely support to NISP stakeholders."

DSS plans to create the National Industrial Security System, to reduce reliance on cumbersome data entry processes, provide analytics and improve the speed and quality of decision making. The system will include a directory of cleared facilities, with links to corporate information, content management and search functionality, and analytics to aid in the interpretation of data about facilities and contracting personnel cleared to handle classified information. The system will maintain audit logs of use and be accessible via mobile device. Users will access the system through a graphical dashboard.

The DSS hosted an industry day for vendors interested in the RFI on Nov. 20. Reponses are due Dec. 8.

Read the request for information here.