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29 Aug, 2012

U.S. State Dept to Spend $750 Million to Revamp Visa, Consular Services

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ARLINGTON, Va.-August 28, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Department of State has selected Accenture Federal Services as one of nine prime contractors to provide technical support and consulting services under a $750 million Development, Modernization, Enhancement (DME) contracting vehicle. The DME has a one-year base, with four, one-year options.

The State Department’s DME is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle that supports the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ modernization strategy to develop, enhance and maintain the technology tools for the bureau’s major business processes: issuing visas and passports and managing the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, which assists Americans with lost passports and provides other, similar services.

DME allows the Bureau of Consular Affairs to purchase software engineering development and modernization, technical and operations support services, and analytical and research support.

“The State Department is taking action to strengthen national security through modern technology, tools and systems. This program will improve delivery of services to American citizens living or traveling abroad and will support efficient and secure issuance of passports and visas,” said Amy Tener, who leads Accenture’s work with the U.S. Department of State.

Accenture recently was awarded contracts by the State Department to analyze the department’s supply chain and enhance the Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS) that provides materials and services to its global workforce. The ILMS program recently was recognized as an industry best practice.

The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) honored the State Department and ILMS earlier this year with two Excellence.gov awards, recognizing exceptional government programs and projects that use information technology in an innovative ways to improve services to citizens, enhance government operations and provide a more open and transparent government.

Accenture’s federal business serves every cabinet-level department and 20 of the largest federal organizations. The U.S. federal portfolio spans across clients in civilian, defense, intelligence and public safety agencies.

Learn more about Accenture’s global Public Safety practice, from Insights to Outcomes, its work with federal agencies and delivering Public Service for the Future.

Accenture‘s home page is www.accenture.com.