FBI's INNOVARi could fail, says IG

A five-year, $8.9 million FBI effort to digitally track DNA sample testing is in danger of failing, concludes a new Justice Department inspector general report.

"We are concerned that the project could fail or be terminated, only to start over again," the report states.

The FBI Laboratory is asked to conduct more DNA sample testing than it can in a reasonable time period; as of March 2010, it would take the bureau lab two years to eliminate a backlog of 3,211 forensic DNA cases, the report states. It can take anywhere from 150 days to 600 days to receive the results of DNA testing from the FBI lab, the report adds.

One reason for that backlog is lack of a modern lab information management system--despite more than $10 million spent since 2003 to implement such a system. The lab's evidence control unit still uses a paper-based chain of custody document to track the flow of evidence throughout the lab.

The most recent attempt to implement an electronic sample tracking system, known as INNOVARi, has cost $8.9 million and is a custom-coded effort primed by Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Boston-based Sapient (NASDAQ: SAPE). The effort began after a commercial, off-the-shelf system primed by JusticeTrax of Mesa, Ariz. fell apart over security requirements in March 2006, causing $1.2 million to be lost in development costs.

However, despite being five years in the making, INNOVARi only just recently received a 180 day security accreditation and lab personnel won't allow an online web interface to connect to the system until it receives permanent authority to operate, the inspector general report states. Northrop Grumman is responsible for creating the web interface while Sapient received a subcontract from Northrop to provide consulting services for the development of the tracking system, the report states.

The effort has suffered from "numerous problems" over the years, including stop-work delays, failures during pilot testing and disagreements between lab personnel and the FBI office of chief information officer, the report states. FBI lab personnel told auditors that they believe Sapient, has fully met its obligations.

Lab DNA forensic specialists told auditors they're concerned that INNOVARi will never be fully capable of capturing the workflow of distinct forensic units because it is not a commercial laboratory information management system. However, a member of the project implementation team told the OIG that were the FBI to abandon INNOVARi for a commercial system, that new system would face the same difficulties that have prevented the timely implementation of INNOVARi.

In the official FBI response to the audit, Amy Jo Lyons, assistant director of the inspection division, said the assistant director overseeing the laboratory has initiated a comprehensive review of lab information needs.

For more:
- download the DOJ OIG report, 10-39 (.pdf)

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