SACRAMENTO - The State of California intends to award a $69 million contract to BearingPoint to implement a new payroll/personnel system, it was announced today.

BearingPoint will work with SAP Public Services Inc. to implement the 21st Century Project. The initiative, being led by the State Controller's Office, will replace an obsolete 30-year-old computer programmed in COBOL with a state-of-the-art system.

Once complete, the system will eliminate the need for many paper-based forms. Instead, State employees will have self-service access to the system, allowing them to select their own benefits, check their accrued leave and easily obtain online forms and documents.

BearingPoint, based in McLean, Va., will serve as the system integrator for the project. SAP Public Services Inc. was selected in April 2005 to provide a commercial human resources management system, mySAP, which will serve as the basis for the project. Both companies were selected through an open Request for Proposal.

The system will manage employment, payroll, benefits, leave accrual, timekeeping and position management data. It will also offer increased flexibility and functionality and provide management reporting tools designed to help managers, budget officers and personnel officers obtain accurate, timely information for more efficient administration of State programs.

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