SD13 - Review of Information Technology Services in Virginia: Final Report


Executive Summary:
Senate Joint Resolution 129 and Item 29 #1c of the Appropriation Act from 2008 directed JLARC to examine the information technology (IT) services provided by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA), some of which are provided through a partnership with Northrop Grumman (NG).

The partnership has provided benefits, but agencies expressed concern that NG’s services are of poor quality, too expensive, and do not meet certain needs.

VITA also needs to make several changes to improve performance of its rate-setting, oversight, and planning responsibilities.

The Governor should be given full responsibility and authority for IT by allowing him to appoint VITA’s head, the State’s Chief Information Officer.

VITA’s dual role as a services and oversight agency creates inherent conflicts of duty that should be addressed by recreating a separate oversight agency.

Virginia’s experience with the NG partnership has faced challenges. To avoid problems with future partnerships, agencies should consider several “lessons learned” about initiating a partnership, and selecting and overseeing a vendor.