DHS agile development contract to include Octo Consulting Group
NewsAugust 30, 2018
RESTON, Va. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials selected Octo Consulting Group (Octo) for the DHS Services Enabling Agile Delivery (SEAD) BPA contract. Onto is one out of nine companies selected to date for the contract that has a $300 million ceiling value over the next five years.
Under contract, Octo will provide Agile coaching, which includes process, technical and enterprise coaching, to advance DHS’ shift to Agile development.
Agile development imparts quality, transparency, and lower risk than traditional methodologies and does so cost-effectively by promoting speed and flexibility through adaptive planning. Octo has provided Agile coaches to several other agencies across the Federal Government. Implementing Agile at Federal agencies has produced positive results. At the same time, these technical implementations require specific steps to address the accompanying cultural shift needed to ensure success.
“As part of the SEAD contract, Octo’s experts will work alongside DHS employees and its contractors to implement best practices that have already proven successful in the private sector and elsewhere within the Federal Government,” says Tom Lee, Senior Vice President at Octo.
“Agile development is the most effective way to implement technologically challenging projects. This vehicle is a way for DHS to jump the technology curve, spark further innovation, and increase Agile adoption,” says Sujey Edward, Chief Technology Officer at Octo. “For successful Agile implementations, it is vital that projects also focus on the cultural shift required, which is why we believe so strongly in our ‘player-coach’ model for training DHS employees. Our hands-on approach will help DHS improve its Agile skills across the agency and develop leaner technical practices.”
