Unisys & Transportation Security Administration
TSA relocates 1,200
employees in record time
Imagine it.

Moving the headquarters of a government agency – including its IT infrastructure – in three weeks.

Done.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) partnered with Unisys to transform an empty facility into a fully operational office able to accommodate 1,200 employees virtually overnight.

Partnering to Meet an Astonishing Deadline

When the TSA contracted with Unisys for IT managed services (ITMS), neither organization knew where the new agency would be headquartered. Until the contract was finalized, TSA could not disclose which of several potential sites would be selected to house the agency until immediately before the move was to occur. As a result, TSA and Unisys had approximately three weeks – from approximately mid-December to the first Monday in January – to accomplish the enormous task of moving the first set of employees from disparate offices to a new headquarters equipped with everything necessary to do their jobs.

 

Our goal was that when the employees came in Monday, the only thing different about their work environment was the building. Thanks to the collaborative effort of Unisys with the TSA, we were able to achieve that goal and more.

Tom Jackowski - TSA Program Manager

Despite the almost impossible deadline, which was further complicated by the Christmas and New Year's holidays, Thomas Jackowski, TSA Program Manager says, "The TSA and Unisys came together as a team, working through the holidays, to ensure that the facility was completely ready for business by the target date."

 

With two 12-story buildings in Arlington, Virginia selected as the TSA headquarters, Unisys and the TSA began the planning effort in earnest in mid-December by holding a Saturday and Sunday meeting  with some of the core team members from both organizations. Following this weekend planning session, all members of the TSA and Unisys team met to discuss the desired path to success and responsibilities.

 

The specific objectives of the project included the following

While the move was to be implemented in phases, the TSA and Unisys team planned as if the entire move would happen the first week in January – no small task given the fact that aside from having the building constructed, the team was working from scratch to have everything ready for business: the cable infrastructure, computers, faxes, copiers, terminals, printers  every piece of technology necessary for TSA employees to do their jobs. As a result, most of the team worked extended hours every day – excluding only Christmas day – up until the week of January 6, 2003, when the first phase of the move was complete.

 

As Jackowski puts it, "Our goal was that when the employees came in on Monday, the only thing different about their work environment was the building. Thanks to the collaborative effort of Unisys with the TSA, we were able to achieve that goal and more."

 

A Seamless Transition & Comprehensive Post-Move Support

When the first wave of employees arrived at the new headquarters, not only did they have all the IT functions they needed, they had desk-side technical support. A team of Unisys technicians was on hand to help with any questions or issues that arose, with one technician for every six employees in the building. "Unisys did an outstanding job," says Dave Newberry, TSA Program Manager. "They were visible enough that employees could get help if they needed it, yet not overbearing."

 

In addition, each user received a welcome package that included a customer satisfaction survey. Based on a 5-point system, with 5 being the highest possible score, the ratings ranged from 4.67 to 4.97 in areas such as "preparation of IT portion of work area" to "Unisys professionalism and courtesy," respectively. These numbers are even more impressive considering that many users were working while subsequent moves were taking place. "We had to ensure that the hundreds of users already in the facility were not interrupted as we phased in the additional employees during each wave," says Jackowski.

 

The Unisys team deserves much of the credit for the move's success. The fact that the team was willing to listen to, and chose to implement, a number of suggestions made by TSA shows the respect that Unisys has for the TSA.

Dave Newberry - TSA Program Manager

Fortunately, many of the TSA members of the move team had previous relocation experience and were able to offer insight into where Unisys should focus its attention. "Some of us came from the Secret Service," Newberry explains, "and we had been involved in a move with the headquarters several years ago that included relocating an entire computer facility. We had many lessons learned from that move that we brought to the table for the TSA move, but we're not the ones who were doing the physical work – that fell to the Unisys part of the team. We were hoping Unisys would be a good listener and take into account our previous experience, and we got that from them."

 

"The Unisys team deserves much of the credit for the move's success," continues Newberry. "The fact that the team was willing to listen to, and chose to implement, a number of suggestions made by TSA shows the respect that Unisys has for the TSA."

 

Customer At-A-Glance

Transportation Security Administration

 

Reports to

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 

Mission

Protect the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce

 

Objective

Have the TSA headquarters operational by January, 2003

 

Results

In-place IT infrastructure –  Seamless transition

 

Population served

1,200 employees - 291 million citizens 

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