Breaking Down Barriers

Army Contractor Automated Verification System

It can take months for federal contractors to get security clearances to allow their employees access to classified information and facilities. Then some employees must have those clearances verified by the agency they're going to work for, which can take additional weeks.

The process creates head-aches for the Army, which has to manage clearances for thousands of companies. Officials say the Army's ability to manage those clearances hasn't kept pace with the service's increasing reliance on help from the private sector.

But that's changing for the Army's Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), which conducts intelligence operations for military commanders. INSCOM built an electronic processing system that reduced contractors' wait time-which averaged 49 days-to five days on average, says Robert Fecteau, INSCOM's chief information officer.

The Army Contractor Automated Verification System cost $400,000 to develop. INSCOM estimates that Army contractors lost between $12 million and $14 million in billable labor hours annually waiting for 5,000 employees to be cleared for work.

Fecteau started small with the project, focusing on that group of 5,000 employees and using software the Army already owned. But now that ACAVS has shown its success, the Army is broadening its base. Today, the system manages more than 9,300 contractor employees representing more than 600 companies, Fecteau says.

WHAT IT IS

An electronic system for verifying contractors' security clearances.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

ACAVS reduced the time the Army waits for cleared employees to begin work.

LESSON LEARNED

When tackling big problems, start with small, manageable goals and use existing technology.

Joint Automated Booking System

If there's one thing the 9/11 commission made clear in its recent findings, it's that federal agencies need to do a better job of sharing information. In launching the Joint Automated Booking System, the Justice Department broke down at least one stovepipe of data.

Before, law enforcement agencies submitted suspects' fingerprints, photographs and biographical data to the FBI on paper forms. Investigators had to take as many as 10 sets of prints and wait weeks to find out whether the bureau had information on the suspect. With JABS, investigators take one set of prints using an automated system. The prints travel over secure lines and identifications come up within minutes.

Connecting agencies' computer systems posed some initial cost concerns. To avoid expensive network upgrades, the JABS team at Justice, led by Kevin Conlon, acting program manager, established a network connection with the FBI's Law Enforcement Online Extranet. This connection gives JABS an inexpensive but secure line to other federal agencies.

Ten agencies can submit fingerprints using JABS. New prints are included immediately in the list the FBI provides to state and local law enforcement agencies.

WHAT IT IS

An automated system for law enforcement agencies to submit fingerprints to the FBI.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Agencies learn within minutes whether the FBI has information on a suspect.

LESSON LEARNED

An FBI extranet connection proved less costly than agency-by-agency network upgrades.