Questions raised: Montana spending nearly $6M extra to send software development work overseas

A company that intends to send some Montana state government work to foreign workers overseas bid almost $6 million more than a company that proposed to do the same work entirely with Montana employees.

Deloitte LLP, a global professional services firm, was recently selected as the best company to create software to manage and help run Montana’s food stamp and cash welfare programs, known by their acronyms of SNAP and TANF, respectively.

Deloitte proposed to Montana human services officials to create the software for $29.6 million, according to state information. Deloitte also indicated in its proposal that some of that work would be done by foreign workers out of country.

By JENNIFER McKEE IR State Bureau

Full Story: http://helenair.com/news/article_51f8387a-c387-11de-a601-001cc4c002e0.html

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Montana Gov. Schweitzer, HHS director say they can’t weigh where jobs will be located in awarding contracts http://matr.net/article-36558.html

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In-state software offered for less

JENNIFER McKEE Gazette State Bureau

If it gets final approval, a company that intends to send some Montana state government work to foreign workers overseas will cost taxpayers almost $6 million more than would have a company that proposed to do the same work entirely with Montana employees.

The company, Deloitte LLP, a global professional services firm, was recently selected as the best company to create software to manage and help run Montana’s food stamp and cash welfare programs, known by their acronyms of SNAP and TANF, respectively.

Deloitte proposed to Montana human services officials to create the software for $29.6 million, according to state information. Deloitte also indicated in its proposal that some of that work would be done by foreign workers out of country.

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_9efb593c-c381-11de-ba26-001cc4c002e0.html

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Company confirms layoffs are related to SNAP, TANF contract

By JENNIFER McKEE Gazette State Bureau

Nine Northrop Grumman employees here have been placed on indefinite, unpaid leave, a company spokeswoman confirmed today, and some could end up leaving town.

Christy Whitman, a Northrop Grumman spokeswoman told the Gazette State Bureau this morning that the furloughs, which are said to be temporary, are related to a state contract that has preliminarily gone to a competing company that intends to send some of the work to foreign workers in other countries.

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_9121fa54-c3eb-11de-93c4-001cc4c03286.html