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Creative Stride, one of Boston’s leading SOMWBA-certified new media, technology and marketing communications firms, has been awarded the ITS43 – Technical Specialist Statewide Contract.  Creative Stride was specifically selected for the Software and Systems Development category, which includes all aspects of planning, design, coding, testing, validating, and maintaining a software application or system.

The relevant specialties that Creative Stride is eligible to perform under the contract are:

• Architecture Services – Identification of business and technology drivers, development of business-IT alignment, definition of technology roadmaps, development of architecture governance processes.  This may include assessment, analysis and rationalization of technology infrastructure and applications, with respect to IT strategy, current and future business and technology requirements, the Commonwealth’s Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM) and industry standards.  For state Contracting Departments, this service would also focus on the assessment and recommendations for alignment of agency information systems with the Commonwealth’s ETRM, related standards and policies, or on addressing architectural issues in areas where the Commonwealth’s Architecture is silent.
• Business Continuity Planning Services – Planning and maintenance services for the development, design, testing, and administration of business continuity plans for state government information systems.  Such business continuity plans typically involve strategic, tactical, or operational plans which promote the continuity of government operations during and after a major business interruption.  Services required may include the planning of: hardware maintenance or replacement, software and business application life cycle continuity, and infrastructure support including (but not limited to), backup data center services, electrical power grid support, voice network failover, data network replacement, emergency deployment of wireless services, or any infrastructure services required for the timely replacement of and operation of interrupted government information systems.
• Business Process Management Services – Development, customization, selection and/or implementation of business process management services including, but not limited to, streamlining of internal processes, business process reengineering, business modeling and workflow mapping. Does not include providing hardware or any pre-existing software components other than open source software.
• Independent Verification and Validation Services – Independent review of systems including but not limited to requirements analysis, validation of design objectives and constraints, code reviews, security assessment, test planning, execution and reporting, verification of test results, validation of processes, verification of documentation, and assistance with project oversight.
• Information Life Cycle Management Services – A combination of processes and technologies that determines how data flows through an environment and how it should best be managed from creation to final disposition.
• Information Security Services – Development, customization, selection and/or implementation of information security services including, but not limited to, application security design and implementation including authentication and authorization; identity management; and infrastructure security, security risk assessment, vulnerability analysis and security monitoring and response. Does not include providing hardware or any pre-existing software components other than open source software.
• Network Planning Services – Planning for wide and/or local communications networks, including wireless networks, for transmission of voice and/or data traffic.
• Project Management – The process of planning, scheduling, and then controlling the activities that occur during the IT system development life cycle. The goal of project management is to deliver an acceptable system to the user in an agreed-upon time frame, within budget. A project management methodology is a standard method used for project management.
• Software Development – Development of technical and/or business solutions including, but not limited to, systems analysis, systems design, coding and testing.
• Software Systems Support - Providing ongoing support, including maintenance and enhancement, for an existing software system, either one developed by Creative Stride or by a third party.
• Systems Integration Services – Assembling complete systems out of multiple hardware and/or software components, and integrating them so all work together in a manner consistent with the organization’s enterprise architecture.  In the case of State Contracting Departments, this would be the Commonwealth’s Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM).
• Systems Planning Services – Preparing or assisting in preparation of feasibility studies, needs assessments, business process re-engineering, requirements definitions, advanced planning documents, and other works related to systems planning.
• Technology Courseware Development – Development of technology-based training and documentation materials for systems staff, technical staff, and/or end-users.
• Usability Services – Perform usability services including, but not limited to, requirements engineering, user testing, remote testing, accessibility testing, usability process audit, user centered design, and training.
• Utility and Grid Computing – Assessment and consultation regarding data center strategies, including utility and grid computing, to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness of system support and hosting services.
• Wireless Applications – Design, development, customization, selection and/or implementation of applications for wireless devices.

In addition, Creative Stride has expertise with Section 508 accessibility.  Commonwealth agencies with specific requirements may contact Creative Stride’s government liaison at 617-395-0226.  For additional information on Creative Stride’s services, please visit us online at http://creativestride.com.