WASHINGTON - A $170-million computer overhaul intended to give FBI agents and analysts an instantaneous and paperless way to manage criminal and terrorism cases is headed back to the drawing board, probably at a much steeper cost to taxpayers.
The FBI hopes to salvage parts of the project, known as Virtual Case File. But officials acknowledged Thursday that it is possible the entire system, designed by Science Applications International Corp. of San Diego, is so inadequate and outdated that a new one will have to be built from scratch.
The FBI did not get what was envisioned, the Associated Press reported, quoting a senior FBI official who requested anonymity because the project is the subject of an internal Justice Department review. The official said its capabilities were about 10 percent of what was sought.
It is not clear how much more money will be needed. The official said the FBI probably will have to ask Congress for additional funds. Some of the software is probably now commercially available.
SAIC spokesman Jared Adams said the company "delivered the Virtual Case File system initial operation capability in December as agreed to" and would have no further comment.
