Started in March 2002, BRIDGE's first-phase implementation was completed by November 2002 and today continues to move forward. This short implementation phase is especially impressive given what BRIDGE is designed to do -- create an integrated information system that addresses the information needs of many divisions, including Marketing and Promotion, Pesticide Programs, Regional Operations, Regulatory Programs, and Rural Economic Development.
Developed on a legislative appropriation of $3.5 million with the assistance of private suppliers vendor BAE Systems and Primary System Design, BRIDGE allows staff and customers to enter information once and use it many times. It is available on demand, allows for transactions between the department and its customers to be conducted using the method chosen by the customer, and provides management the information necessary to effectively and efficiently allocate resources.
Its main goals are to: ensure data quality, eliminate stove-piped information, outsource a licensing system, improve reporting capabilities, provide online access, and provide program-based information. It includes an extensive array of features including: providing a standard set of information for every client regardless of program; sharing of that common information across programs; recording of money received and integrating with its accounting system; tracking of program-specific information; tracking of milestones; generating automatic letters, licenses, renewal notices and other correspondence; creating data-entry screens that match data collection forms; and much more.