Lone Star State Picks KPMG for Portal Work
MAY 18 ? KPMG Consulting of New York was tapped by the state of Texas to develop a statewide Internet portal and electronic payment system.
By Nick Wakeman, Staff Writer
MAY 18 ? KPMG Consulting of New York was tapped by the state of Texas to develop a statewide Internet portal and electronic payment system.
The relationship is a unique public-private partnership that will develop one of the largest e-commerce projects to date for any state or local government in the country, according to KPMG officials.
With the Texas eGovernment Task Force, KPMG Consulting is designing the Texas eGovernment Framework (TeGF) to streamline processes for businesses and citizens. The state wants online services ranging from sales tax filings and payments to license applications and renewals. TeGF also will be able to grow as usage and the state grows. The portal will become available July 1.
"The state agencies and governor's appointees on the task force have worked closely to find the best possible way to harness the power of the Internet to serve Texans," said Carolyn Purcell, executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources. "The eGovernment framework is the bedrock of our vision for a connected Texas, serving Texans at the speed of light."
While many states are developing Internet portals, Texas is further ahead than most, said Gary Miglicco, managing director of KPMG's state and local practice, based in Austin, Texas. "The Texas eGovernment Framework is designed to permit phase-in applications from other state and local agencies, and create a truly open, accessible state government that can provide services quickly, efficiently and securely to Texans," he said.
The public-private partnership between KPMG and Texas will accelerate the development of the portal. KPMG is using the same technology it used to develop the NetAid Web site in 1999 that handled 60 million hits an hour. That site was developed for Cisco Systems and the United Nations Development Program. The site was up and running in 90 days.
Six state agencies will initially use the portal, with additional state, county and municipal agencies expected to participate in the near future. The following agencies are expected to be phased into the portal throughout the summer and early fall: the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Railroad Commission, the Real Estate Commission, the Texas Department of Insurance, and the Department of Licensing and Regulations.