Business Challenge
Montgomery County was experiencing explosive growth; the developer community demanded improved services; applicants were tired of waiting in line for services; legacy systems were disparate and lacked integration across the government; and the new County Executive mandated “taking the government to the people” via technology. The Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Director and County’s CIO were responsible for the project’s timely success with no budget overruns. The County released a Firm-Fixed-Price RFP. AINS won on price, completeness of solution, proposed schedule, guaranteed on-site support and demonstrated past performance.

AINS Solutions
AINS successfully implemented the entire solution as promised on time and within the budget. The County’s expectations were exceeded. AINS delivered more functionality and the latest technologies within the firm-fixed priced contract for $7.3 Million. Most critical functions were phased in early in the 3-year period making it the most successful project in County history. AINS on-site dedicated project managers, business analysts, and integration specialists were key and were aided by some Hansen services to control costs.

Phase 1
In Phase 1, AINS delivered the core solution comprised of the software, hardware platforms (servers and workstations), and interconnecting network infrastructure. Software included Hansen V7 Permitting and Planning, Licensing, Customer Service, Code Enforcement, Custom Tab and Menu Editors, and Cashiering modules. AINS carried out the largest and smoothest data conversion task of its kind in Hansen history by successfully migrating and consolidating over 10 years of data from fourteen data sources into a “live” production Hansen database – all this in a matter of 17 hours. We used proven AINS data transformation methodologies and algorithms. AINS averted several crises by successfully tuning underlying databases, troubleshooting formulas and triggers, and devising workarounds for the gaps. The County stayed open for business. AINS provided installation, development, configuration, testing, documentation, and training for all the phases. AINS provided the staff resources for the majority of these activities.

Phase 2Phase 2 Pic
In Phase 2, AINS delivered two important unattended 24 X 7 services and provided the County with the latest ESRI ArcIMS™ GIS system. AINS delivered a state-of-the-art Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system and integrated it with the Hansen database so the caller could retrieve information and register service requests unassisted. AINS provided the County with a Fax server that allowed the public to request forms and submit them unassisted. AINS also seamlessly integrated the ESRI ArcIMS™ GIS with the Hansen solution via our APPXchange™ software and created a branded, unified workstation graphical user interface (GUI) known as the County’s Permit Center. This allowed users access to information in multiple subsystems. The figure above shows the Permit Center. The use of this GUI was extended in later phases.

Phase 3Phase 3 Pic
In Phase 3, AINS delivered a state-of-the-art Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) from Documentum and integrated it with Hansen using Permit Center as an API was not available from Hansen at the time. See Figure on right. AINS provided CAD software for annotation of electronic submissions. AINS converted and indexed approximately 1.5M assorted paper documents and drawings and trained County staff and contractors. As a suitable COTS mobile solution was not available at the time, AINS designed and implemented one for 70 laptops.

Phase 4
AINS designed and implemented the County’s first e-Government portal known as e-Permitting and integrated it into the Hansen system. This allowed the public to make on-line submissions and inquiries on a 24 x 7 basis.

For more information see http://permittingservices.montgomerycountymd.gov/dpstmpl.asp?url=/Main.asp.