NSW Police closes in on new core system vendor

NSW Police has narrowed down its search for a new integrated policing operating system (IPOS), shortlisting three contenders for the hotly anticipated refresh gig.

After a long-drawn-out search to replace the state’s 24-year-old core operational policing system (COPS) that originally dates back to July 2015, the force is now just months away from a decision.

IPOS is expected to transform the approach to policing for what is Australia’s largest police force, as frontline officers spend more time on the beat thanks to the adoption of mobile devices.

The force restarted its overhaul of COPS last October after briefly pausing the long-running project earlier in the year to review its approach and consider options for the new platform.

The review was sought despite the delivery of a proof-of-concept solution from Accenture in 2017, dubbed NewCOPS, which was the result of a 2015 tender for a COPS modernisation build partner.

A NSW Police spokesperson told iTnews that significant interest from vendors globally had resulted in close to 30 bids to deliver the new all-in-one core policing system.

The policing agency has since conducted several down selection phases, though would not name the three remaining vendors in the running for the project.

“We are now at a final short-short list before choosing the preferred vendor in Q3 2019,” the spokesperson said.

“We cannot provide the names of the bidders/providers, as we are still under procurement probity."

IPOS will contain modules that cover core police functions like investigation management, evidence and forensic data management and investigation, charge and custody management, and intelligence management. 

It will also replace the force’s existing Fujitsu computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system with one that can better transmit data to frontline officers.

The force had originally tendered to replace the decade-old system separately, prior to IPOS.