CACI: COOL TO FIX Y2K Nancy Peters is a recent addition to CACI from Software AG. Because she considers Y2K a reengineering (rather than maintenance) problem, Peters was attracted to CACI's continued emphasis on reengineering technology, feeling that the company's solution deserved more prominence. Before her arrival, CACI had an operations group, a heavy recruiting program, and an infrastructure in place, but not much visibility. Peters has been working hard to change that. Peters believes that developing project management proficiency is as important as utilizing current software tools -- both CACI strengths. The federal government has often struggled with finishing projects on time and under budget, and Y2K offers no time extensions. This concrete deadline concerns Peters because she sees agencies less interested in project/process management and more obsessed with detailing every little program and system. "Over half the Y2K effort should be spent on project management, with 40-50% spent on testing, and the last 10% or so on fixing the 'fix'. But agencies aren't getting on with things. The goal is to solve Y2K, not have the most accurate assessment we could make in terms of lines of code." With Y2K a part of CACI's standard methodology from the start, Peters claims that CACI was "fixing Y2K before fixing Y2K was cool." CACI's technical folk consider the Y2K fix a subset of the more complex process of reengineering complete systems. Renevade (CACI's reengineering methodology) has been applied to Navy, FAA, and National Archives systems and already contains the process necessary to fix Y2K. The Restore 2000 project could be definied as the "laser-beam" version of Renevade: it's the specific piece that deals with Y2K, gathering information about and building an artifact repository of an agency's system. CACI leaves this information database with the agency, so that after the Y2K ends, they can hopefully return and totally reengineer the system. After examining numerous claims, Peters confirms that no real silver bullet exists. However, CACI's automated tools can accelerate code-fixing by 30-40%. CACI maintains a non-exclusive partnership with Viasoft, including the use of their MVS/mainframe/COBOL tools, bidding on projects with them, and supporting them on personal commercial projects. Of major concern to both companies is how to get toolsets inside agencies without slowing down reengineering. CACI acquires tools from other partners, such as Visionette (an AS400 supplier) and Paritis. The tools they apply to a particular solution depends on their client's specific needs. Peters credits DoD agencies for taking large steps to fix Y2K, stemming from their authority structure. "[In the DoD], if word comes down from above that something will be done, then people definitely pay attention." But Peters also says that, in addition to getting hung up on "code counting," some DoD agencies have forgotten about data exchange. "They all share information with each other. I don't see many of them wondering what will happen if the data they normally process doesn't arrive, or if the data they ship out isn't compatible with the recipient." Peters points out how most agencies are resisting a standard date format, preferring one that is personally convenient. "This is why Y2K happened in the first place," explains Peters. "An agency's solution might be more internally efficient, but if the DoD's standard data exchange has an 8-digit date field instead of a 6-digit one, they're just building another problem into their solution." Peters believes that most civilian agencies (except for SSA) are in extreme denial about Y2K's impact. "The SSA's had to deal with this for a long time, due to their line of work, and Kathy Adams has been doing a fabulous job, but I still haven't seen much from the Treasury. Citizens might think it great not to pay taxes in 2000, but it's not great for the government. Who knows? Maybe we'll have a flat tax that year." And besides OMB's decree that no extra money will be allocated for Y2K, agencies are structured in ways that make it hard to start moving. According to Peters, a CIO is responsible for all information systems in her agency and might even have a Y2K project office person, but neither office has its own budget: Both people must resort to "cheerleading" in order to motivate others to move. "The money sits in the program offices. Those offices aren't eager to hand money over, especially for Y2K, when they want to focus directly on the agency mission. This disconnection is an infrastructure problem to be dealt with." To get wheels turning, Peters advises agencies to just "start something, somewhere." When an agency starts a small project or assesses a tiny area and realizes how interlocked systems are and how complex Y2K is, it suddenly begins to move. "CACI could help agencies move through the process and reach their goal. It's not the grunt labor help [that defines our work], it's the encouragement and motivation we could offer." Besides heel-dragging, Peters says that even the aware folk claim they just don't have money. "I think we have to be greater alarmists than this," says Peters. "We just can't sit back and wait." If people don't find funds themselves, no one else will. Peters is deeply concerned over the fixed amount of money to be allocated between Y2K and other projects. DoD has stated that if funds can't cover Y2K and other existing contracts, the existing contracts will be dropped in favor of Y2K. Contractor revenues will suffer greatly if thousands of contracted employees are suddenly told to go home if not doing Y2K work. CACI is making sure to promote their Y2K capabilities to agencies. Although government now realizes that Y2K isn't going away, Peters fears that it might be too late. With less than 1000 days remaining until January 1, 2000, can agencies still find help? "If someone comes to me and says, 'My house is burning down, help me rearrange the furniture,' well, I really don't want to go in there," admits Peters. "Agencies who wait are going to miss the boat. I once overheard someone say that the government will have to use 'Harry's Aluminum Siding, Screen Door, and Y2K Company' to fix Y2K, because no one else has the time to handle the project this late in the game." Consultants are also hindered by the dynamics of the hiring process. Although they must constantly train employees, they also can't afford to have trained employees who aren't working, so people aren't trained until jobs are imminent. Agencies interested in hiring consultants must get started now. Some have been. "We recruit continuously," explains Peters, "advertise, then suddenly get a request for a large number of people and have to scramble for more. I think this pace will accelerate up to year 2000 itself, and even afterwards there will be some business mopping up whatever problems are left." What can you do, with Y2K looming ever closer on the horizon? "I run as fast as I can," Peters says. "It's really gotten crazy." CACI's Web site is located at year2000.caci.com. CACI is Year*2000 certified (see sidebar, page 000). Among its current contracts is a $38 million partnership (including other vendors) with Montgomery County, Maryland. ----------------------------------------------------- (c) 1997 by Fed Services, Inc. Electronic Government, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. ???. Material to be used solely in regards to examining my credentials for employment.