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18F to Partner with Federal Agencies Providing Grants to State and Local Programs to Upgrade Digital Services

Washington — 18F, the team of digital technology consultants housed within the General Services Administration, today announced plans to expand its consulting and acquisition services to assist federal agencies that provide grants to state and local programs. Since its launch in March 2014, 18F has grown from 15 to 165 people and helps federal agencies build, buy, and share efficient and easy-to-use digital services. 18F will partner with federal agencies providing grants to state and local programs to offer them the same best practices of human-centered, agile, and modular design.

“Federal agencies already provide millions of dollars each year to fund state and local government technology projects,” said GSA Administrator Denise Turner Roth about the new practice. “Now even more Americans will benefit from the world-class expertise at 18F, while partnering with federal agencies that provide grants to state and local programs allows GSA to help stretch those dollars even further."

This expansion of services grew out of a successful 2015 pilot project between 18F, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the California Department of Social Services to upgrade the state’s legacy Child Welfare System. A team of 18F digital and procurement experts worked with HHS to help key stakeholders in California rethink their approach to upgrading that system. Instead of relying on a single vendor to build and manage the new $400 million dollar project, 18F helped California design an agile and modular system based on a series of smaller contracts with quicker turnaround times. Through smarter practices in modular contracting, 18F has helped federal agencies realize savings of up to 50 percent.  And with a focus on user-centered design, California expects to see delivery of better care for its most vulnerable children.

Leading 18F’s new State and Local Government Practice will be Robin Carnahan, former Missouri Secretary of State. “As a state elected official, nothing caused me to lose more sleep than launching a new website or technology platform,” Carnahan said. “Using our federal agency partnerships to give state and local officials access to 18F’s digital experts and services is a great way to help more citizens and save millions of dollars for taxpayers. It just makes sense for everyone.”

For more information contact: 18f@gsa.gov