FBI Sentinel probably at least 10 percent over cost

[The Straight Story]

FBI Sentinel probably at least 10 percent over cost


Evidence that Sentinel, the FBI's $451 million web-based investigative case management system, is more than just a little troubled continue to mount.

The latest exhibit comes in FBI Director Robert Mueller's April 15 congressional testimony that the FBI brought in outside consultants from Mitre, Aerospace Corp. and Booz Allen Hamilton to evaluate the project.

A new set of eyes can be a good idea, but it usually means a few things: First, that the trouble is probably not, indeed, "minor" (as Mueller says it is); second, that the agency has lost faith in its prime contractor--in this case, Lockheed Martin--to fix the problems.

The second sign that Sentinel faces serious trouble is a statement from Mueller to the effect that development tasks and costs began to go over budget and schedule only starting last fall. But the FBI and Lockheed Martin have already gone through one cycle of re-baselining the project. Extending the deadline back in 2007 for phase 2 of the effort may have technically avoided an earlier cost and schedule breach, but last fall is the second time, not the first, that plans and reality failed to coincide. Stating so might not be a pleasant task, but it's better to acknowledge the weightiness of events than to ignore them.

Read more: http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/fbi-sentinel-probably-least-10-percent-over-cost/2010-04-19#ixzz0ljinygDF