The California Department of Technology announced round two for proposals to be funded by the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF).

The $25 million TMF was created in the 2021-02 budget that will “allow CDT to provide quick funding to state departments to invest in technology modernization efforts or to stabilize IT systems at risk of failure.”    It will fund small efforts that can quickly provide high-value services and fund urgent needs identified by the state’s Stabilization Service.

In the first round of the TMF, five of 21 project applications were chosen to pitch their ideas to a committee of state executives. Four of the five pitches were chosen to move forward:

• The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is integrating state HR systems with commercial job boards and recruitment platforms. If the project is successful, it will be extended to other state departments. (Budget: $3.5 million/two years.) 
• The California Environmental Protection Agency is developing a geospatial dataset to protect Californians from hazardous waste. (Budget: $1.5 million.)
• The Department of Food and Agriculture is moving their system that tracks companies who can test and repair weight and measurement equipment online. (Budget: under $1 million.)
• The Department of Consumer Affairs Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board is moving application, processing, and payment for 13 license types from paper to online. (Budget: $400,000.)

Work on these four projects began back in Jan. 2022. 

State entities will have until April 8 to submit proposals for the innovative grants. 

According to the CDT website, “Projects must have clear, concrete goals, a viable and quick path to delivery, and strong support from the requesting entity’s executive leadership.  Proposals submitted will be evaluated based on their probability of success, replicability, and support of statewide goals.”