Independent Project Oversight Report (IPOR) Rating

3600-081 Environmental Review and Permitting Project (ERPP)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) proposes to update the statewide online permitting systems, Environmental Permit Information Management System (EPIMS) and Scientific Collecting Permit Portal (SCPP). The scope will also include improving operational efficiency in management of environmental permits by supporting other critical Environmental Review processes including online application and tracking of California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Take Permits whose tracking platform known as Project Tracking is no longer supported. The goal of this project is to create one system that can incorporate these systems.

Project Details

Agency / State Entity Natural Resources / Fish and Wildlife, Department of
Total Cost $13,317,754
Last Approved Start Date 01/07/2025
Last Approved Finish Date 01/06/2026
Criticality Rating Medium
IPOR Reporting Period Overall IPOR Rating
01/01/2026 - 01/31/2026
Red
Independent Project Oversight Dashboard

Key Questions

Is the project on track to satisfy the customer's business objectives?Uncertain

Is the project on track to achieve the objectives in the approved timeframe?No

Is the project on track to achieve the objectives within the approved budget?Uncertain

Project Overall Health Comments
Red
• In January 2026, the Project is executing the October 2025 strategy to deliver the project. The Project completed Sprint 3 earning only twenty-one of the fifty-eight committed story points. • DFW has decided to pause the Project until the vendor can deliver acceptable documentation related to Permit #1 Incidental Take Permits (ITP) and a realistic path forward. • Once a realistic revised schedule is identified, the DFW will work to gain DFW executive approval, per the Project’s governance process and complete a Special Project Report (SPR) to submit to the CDT.
Focus Area/Rating Comments
Governance

green icon Green
• A Governance Structure has been agreed to and documented in the project planning process. • The January 2026 Executive Steering Committee (ESC) meeting was canceled and an Executive Status Report was sent to the stakeholders.
Time Management

red icon Red
• The Project has an acceptable Schedule Management Plan. • IPO has observed the Project falling behind in completing deliverables related to Permit #1, with discovery activities for Permit #2 and #3 on hold until Permit #1 ITP is complete. • An updated project schedule is being prepared by the vendor. • The Project is now in the thirteenth month of execution and has not updated the schedule based on discovery session findings.
Cost & Contract Management

green icon Green
• The Project has an acceptable Cost Management Plan and Contract Management Plan. • IPO has witnessed the Project executing and adhering to the Cost and Contract Management Plans. • IPO has witnessed the DFW notifying the vendor of project delays, providing timely feedback on deliverables and requesting suggestions to get the project back on track.
Scope Management

yellow icon Yellow
• The Project has an acceptable Scope Management Plan. • IPO will monitor the Project’s execution and adherence to the plan as the Project progresses. • The October 2025 strategy to deliver the Project is being revised based on poor project performance. • The revised strategy should be analyzed using the approved Change Control Process for any impact to project scope.
Resources

yellow icon Yellow
• The Project is working to obtain an additional program resource to assist with OCM responsibilities. • Considering the lack of deliverable quality, the vendors staff may not have the required skillset to deliver the project.
Quality

red icon Red
• Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) is providing a monthly report and attending project meetings. • IPO has witnessed IV&V providing analysis and recommendations in the team meetings and monthly reports. • The Project Management Plan contains a subsidiary Quality Management Plan that adequately describes the quality expectations of the Project. • IPO has witnessed vendor deliverables content and quality not meeting expectations.
Risk And Issues

green icon Green
• The Project has an acceptable Risk Management Plan. • The Project is using a Risk Issue Decision log for tracking and the topics are discussed in the Bi-Weekly Status meetings and the ESC. • IPO observed the risk and issue statuses have not changed since the last reporting period.
Transition Readiness

green icon Green
• The Project has requested an additional program resource to act as an ERP Ambassador and support OCM communications.
Conditions For Approval

green icon Green
• There are no conditions for approval in place.
Corrective Action

green icon Green
• There are no corrective action plans in place.
Project Approval Documents
Website Accessibility Certification

20250626 Release-16