Washington State Patrol Fire Protection Bureau (FPB) – Technology Modernization

• Business Executive Sponsor – Melissa Gannie
• IT Executive Sponsor – Chris Anderson

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting a Feasibility Study to chart a clear, actionable path for modernizing its technology infrastructure. This initiative complies with statewide IT investment standards and examines whether the State Fire Marshal’s Office current systems and processes are sufficient to meet state and federal law requirements, and the expectations of partner agencies and customer for modern, reliable technology. This project will culminate in:

A prioritized Technology Investment Plan	A five-year Modernization Roadmap	A WaTech-compliant Feasibility Study Report	Funding Acquisition requests for state legislature, grant making entities, and state IT modernization programs

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting the Technology Modernization Project with a phased approach:

• State Fire Marshal’s Office IT Modernization One Pager

Table of Contents

I. Foundational Information
II. Impacts
III. Feasibility Study
IV. Parking Lot

I. Foundational Information

• What is Technology Modernization?
– Technology modernization is the structured process of upgrading an organization’s legacy systems, tools, and workflows to improve performance, security, scalability, and user experience while aligning technology with current and future business needs.

• What is a Feasibility Study?
– An evaluation of State Fire Marshal Office’s (SFMO) current systems, business processes, and technology gaps that hinder its ability to fulfill RCW-mandates and meet stakeholder expectations for modern technology. The Feasibility Study will culminate in a prioritized Information Technology (IT) Investment Plan, five-year modernization roadmap, a WaTech-compliant Feasibility Study report, and funding acquisition requests for state legislature, grant making entities, and state IT modernization programs.

• Why is the SFMO undertaking this initiative now?
– SFMO aims to enhance organizational readiness, build stakeholder confidence, and foster cross-agency collaboration around a unified IT strategy. Beyond deliverables, the project will establish and socialize a shared modernization vision, inform strategic investments, and lay the groundwork for sustainable technology advancement. Delaying modernization increases operational risk, cybersecurity exposure, data quality issues, and inefficiencies. Modernization positions SFMO to improve services, support legislative priorities, and reduce long-term maintenance and operational costs.

Ultimately, these improvements will empower SFMO to better protect both Washington residents and fire service professionals through an effective IT ecosystem.

• What problems is this project intended to solve?
– The project addresses long-standing challenges caused by aging systems, manual processes, duplicate data entry, limited reporting capabilities, and disconnected applications. These issues increase administrative workload, slow service delivery, and make it more difficult to meet statutory responsibilities and stakeholder expectations.

• What happens after the feasibility study is completed?
– The feasibility study will provide recommendations regarding:

• Preferred solution approaches
• Estimated costs and benefits
• Implementation timelines
• Risks and mitigation strategies
• Funding options
• Procurement recommendations

If approved, SFMO may seek funding and begin a formal procurement process to select implementation partners and software solutions.

• Is this replacing a single system?
– No. This initiative is evaluating how multiple systems, business processes, and data sources can be modernized and integrated into a cohesive technology ecosystem. The recommended solution may involve one platform, several integrated platforms, or a phased combination of technologies.

• Where can I find more information about the SFMO technology modernization?
– The SFMO Technology Modernization project launched a resource hub website where you can find the latest news. The resource hub features:

• A 5-minute Fireside Chat
• The Frequently-Asked-Questions and answers
• The SFMO Technology Modernization One-Pager
• Contact information for further questions/concerns: melissa.gannie@wsp.wa.gov
• Refer to the monthly newsletter for more project announcements.

II. Impacts

• How will this impact the bureau?
– Technology modernization will make the SFMO more efficient, data-driven, and responsive by replacing outdated systems and manual processes with integrated, user-friendly tools. This will streamline daily operations, improve data accuracy and accessibility, enhance cybersecurity and compliance, and enable faster, more transparent service delivery.

• Will staff be involved in the process?
– Yes. Staff participation is essential. Employees and stakeholders contribute through interviews, workshops, process reviews, surveys, and feedback sessions to ensure the recommended solutions reflect real operational needs.

• Will modernization eliminate jobs?
–  The purpose of modernization is to improve tools and processes, not reduce staffing. Technology is intended to reduce manual work, improve productivity, and allow staff to focus on higher-value activities and customer service.

• How will this impact me?
– Technology modernization will improve the experience for residents and customers by making services faster, more transparent, and easier to access. Processes such as permit applications, inspections, and compliance tracking will become more streamlined and, where possible, available online reducing wait times and the need for in-person visits. Customers will benefit from clearer communication, better status tracking, and more consistent service, while improved data systems help the Bureau respond more quickly and accurately to requests. Overall, modernization will make interactions with the Bureau more efficient, predictable, and user-friendly.

III. Feasibility Study

• What happens after the feasibility study is completed?
– The feasibility study will provide recommendations regarding:

• Preferred solution approaches
• Estimated costs and benefits
• Implementation timelines
• Risks and mitigation strategies
• Funding options
• Procurement recommendations

If approved, SFMO may seek funding and begin a formal procurement process to select implementation partners and software solutions.

• Which vendors responded to the request for information (RFI) and actively participated in the Feasibility Study?
– 3Di, Accela-cloudPWR, Fire Engineering, First Due, ICF, Salesforce, Vector Solutions-Acadis

• How were the vendors evaluated?
– Vendors were evaluated through a structured market research and benchmarking process designed to identify solutions that align with the Washington State Patrol SFMO’s business, operational, and technical requirements.
– The evaluation process included:

• Business Requirements Analysis
SFMO documented detailed business and technical requirements across core functional areas. (I think we should have a separate “What core functional areas were studied?” listing the current study and referencing the functional areas of the previous study (MDM & LMS+)

• Peer State Benchmarking
Surveys and interviews were conducted with state fire marshal offices, emergency management agencies, and training organizations nationwide to understand:

• Organizational structures
• Technology platforms in use
• Lessons learned
• Staffing and governance models

• Universal Requirements Document and Request for Information/Quotation
Vendors received a comprehensive package containing business requirements, process documentation, and project objectives to ensure consistent and informed responses.

• Vendor Demonstrations and Discussions
Vendors presented their solutions and discussed how their platforms address SFMO’s needs, including configuration options, integration capabilities, implementation approaches, and long-term support models.

• Cross-Functional Evaluation
Each vendor was assessed against:

• Functional fit
• Technical architecture
• Integration capabilities
• Data governance support
• Security and compliance
• Implementation complexity
• Scalability and future flexibility

• Strategic Alignment Assessment
Solutions were evaluated for alignment with:

• Washington Technology Solutions standards and policies
• Washington State cybersecurity requirements
• Legislative and stakeholder expectations
• SFMO’s long-term modernization vision
• The purpose of this process was not to select a final vendor during the feasibility study, but to identify viable solution approaches, estimate implementation costs and timelines, and inform a competitive procurement strategy.

• Has a final vendor been selected?
– No. The feasibility study includes market research and vendor engagement, but no vendor has been selected. Any software or implementation services will be acquired through a formal competitive procurement process in accordance with state purchasing requirements.

• How will this project be funded?
– The feasibility study will identify potential funding sources, which may include legislative appropriations, grants, federal funding opportunities, and state technology modernization programs.

State Fire Marshal’s Office Technology Modernization project Sponsors:

• Business Executive Sponsor – Melissa Gannie
• IT Executive Sponsor – Chris Anderson

Point of Contact for project support and to submit (FAQ) questions:

• melissa.gannie@wsp.wa.gov

Coming Soon!