MPs voice serious concerns over FiReControl project

Nicola Brittain, Computing, Thursday 1 April 2010 at 16:43:00

But report urges the government to continue the programme ?with renewed
vigour?

A new report by a committee of MPs on the Fire and Rescue Service's
FiReControl
IT project has warned that the programme is in serious danger of missing its
current deadlines.

The FiReControl project, which aims to replace 46 local fire and rescue
control rooms with nine regional control centres (RCCs), is being managed by the
Communities and Local Government (CLG) department.

The report, released today by the Communities and Local Government Select
Committee, highlights problems with the service?s relationship with IT supplier
EADS, which it describes as "adversarial?.

EADS has subcontracted elements of the FiReControl project to software
development company Intergraph, and it is this part of the programme that is
causing the committee the most concern.

Intergraph is not expected to deliver the initial version of its software
until July 2010, after which EADS will begin integrating it into the overall
FiReControl system. The final Intergraph code should be released in October
2010, but this leaves just six months for testing before the first three RCC are
due to go live in May 2011.

According to the report, the committee's opinion of EADS ?falls some way
short of total confidence in the ability of its contractors to deliver."

Because many local fire and rescue control rooms have not seen an upgrade
since 2000, any further programme delays may force the fire service to adopt
alternative solutions. These are cited in the report.

Despite these concerns, the report recommends that the (CLG) continue with
the project but ?with renewed vigour?. The report says the CLG must:

? resolve its contractual dispute with EADS and implement a viable project

plan;

? closely monitor delivery of FiReControl against interim milestones, and

examine alternative viable options for delivery to be implemented in case of any
slippage;

? address the shortcomings in its management of the project;

? consult fully with Fire and Rescue Service staff and professionals in
defining end-user

requirements;

? take further steps to shift the negative perception of the project and to
influence fire and rescue authorities to make the positive decision to switch to
the new system; and

? provide assurances that the safety and security of the Olympic Games will
not be

compromised during the roll-out of the new RCCs.

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2260762/firecontrol-system