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State of California, Office of Systems Integration Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Project Statewide Implementation Services

Eskel Porter Consulting performed a range of project management and planning tasks to lead the statewide deployment of the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Project. The driving force behind the EBT Project is federal welfare reform, which mandates the replacement of paper food stamp coupons with EBT technology. EBT automates the delivery, reception, and reconciliation of federally-funded and state-funded food stamps and cash program benefits that are administered by California’s counties under the supervision of the California Department of Social Services.

Eskel Porter was the prime contractor for deployment of the EBT Project, working in close collaboration with the system vendor, as well as several State departments, county departments, and citizens. Our structure of collaborative management was key to the effective management of a project of this magnitude. Eskel Porter’s Regional Implementation Managers engaged counties into an implementation readiness phase—meeting with the executive team and their designated EBT project management team to gain their trust and develop their EBT implementation project structure, controls, planning, status reporting, progress reporting, risk analysis, and workgroup/task assignment structures. Eskel Porter was considered an important member of the State’s leadership team, instrumental in executive decisions regarding project planning, analysis of issues, risk analysis, project scope, vendor contract management and compliance, validations, and reviews. Eskel Porter also helped counties establish their own project management capabilities. We provided customized plans to fit the unique needs of individual counties. Once the knowledge transfer process was on track and the EBT deployment on task, we moved into an oversight role, representing the State’s interest, and monitoring both the counties’ compliance with the EBT guidelines for implementation, and the system vendor’s performance.

With the continued guidance and close cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), California was able to accelerate the completion of its EBT system, fulfilling the goal of nationwide implementation. California’s EBT Project was selected as the 2003 Project of the Year by the Electronic Funds Transfer Association (EFTA), bringing the State nationwide recognition for excellence in project planning and operation. Furthermore, the Center for Digital Government awarded the State’s EBT Project Manager the Best of California 2003 Award for Demonstrated Excellence in Project Management.

“The USDA congratulates California on the full implementation of its statewide EBT system,” said Allen Ng, western regional administrator for the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. “California successfully converted the largest number of retailers and recipients ahead of schedule and with good stewardship of state and federal funds. We are proud of our relationship with California and look forward to working with them on future initiatives.”

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