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Animal ID Commission Selects Technology Partner
NCBA Delivers Industry-based Solutions, Faster Timeline
DENVER (July 6, 2005) – After an extensive evaluation process, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Animal Identification Commission has selected a team led by BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE:BE), as the lead technology consultant for its industry-based, multi-species animal identification program. BearingPoint, working with ViaTrace, Microsoft and S&H Marketing, will provide the platform for information storage for the industry-led national animal identification program. Details of the agreement are being finalized.
The Animal Identification Commission was created as a result of a member-developed policy that charged NCBA with developing a solution for implementation of a national animal identification system for multiple species, including cattle. NCBA members chose to lead this initiative because they want to protect producer rights and confidentiality. While federal and state animal health authorities will be able to access relevant parts of this database to trace back in the event of a disease outbreak or animal health-related incident, the data will remain the property of the individual and stored with a multi-species consortium to maintain confidentiality.
The selection was conducted through a three-phase process. The Commission initially issued a request for information to allow companies to provide background on their capabilities. Based on these submissions, a request for proposal for a specific scope of work was requested of companies whose capabilities met the technology needs. These proposals were narrowed to a group of finalists who were all individually interviewed by the Commission members.
“One of the goals of the selection process was to bring the best solution to the industry in terms of identification technology and to find the solution that offers the best value and utility for cattlemen,” said Allen Bright, Nebraska cattle producer and animal identification coordinator for NCBA. “While we received input from many quality vendors, the Commission feels that the BearingPoint team is best equipped to deliver an information storage system that is both robust and secure in a timely fashion.”
More than 10 companies were considered during the initial request for information. The BearingPoint team was selected for the group’s experience in large system integration efforts and its demonstrated understanding of producers’ and state and federal government needs.
Another top priority for the Commission was the speed with which a national animal identification system could be implemented. While USDA has announced plans to have a program in place by 2009, the Commission’s desire was to significantly expedite this timeline. As a result, the BearingPoint team is expected to Beta test the system by October 2005, and to be fully operational by January 1, 2006.
“Animal identification is a top priority for all sectors of the beef industry,” Bright said. “Seeing an increased emphasis from consumers, feeders, packers, channel operators, international trading partners and federal and state government authorities, the Commission feels that having an identification program in place by fall of 2005 is essential. Many of our domestic and international customers are requesting identification already, and we believe a market-driven solution is quicker and better protected than a bureaucratic, government solution.”
NCBA’s Executive Committee reviewed the recommendation from the Animal ID Commission this morning and approved unanimously a motion to move forward with this partner and a multi-species consortium that will serve as the non-profit entity to provide oversight to the system. This consortium is expected to include representatives from all affected animal industries.
NCBA views a voluntary, industry-based national identification program as a critical tool for adding value and maintaining profitability for livestock producers. While the system must meet the government’s needs for trace back within 48 hours, NCBA does not feel the program should be government-operated. Instead, NCBA proposes to turn governance of the program over to a multi-species consortium that can better reflect the needs and views of livestock producers. A system governed by producers also has more incentive to contain costs, greater ability to keep information confidential, and can remain focused on the goal of adding value through an effective and efficient identification program.
“Talk wasn’t good enough for NCBA cattlemen members. They charged NCBA, as a leader in the livestock industry, to take action and get this program off the ground. The working infrastructure needed to be created in order for a consortium to come together. This project will be turned over to a consortium to manage,” said Missouri cattleman Mike John, NCBA president-elect and chairman of the Animal Identification Commission. John emphasized, “As a non-profit entity, this consortium will not be a revenue generator for any livestock organization, including NCBA.”
In addition to forming the consortium, next steps include creating the funding mechanism and formation of business rules.
“NCBA members gave us a clear directive in terms of animal ID,” said John. “They did not want us to sit and wait for a government-imposed program that had the very real potential of making confidential information available to a whole host of non-industry parties. They wanted an industry solution that added value, minimized costs and protected their confidentiality - and they wanted it sooner, rather than later. NCBA continues to deliver on this promise.”
The Animal ID Commission included cattlemen from Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.
Find more information on NCBA’s efforts to implement a national animal identification system at:
http://www.beefusa.org/AnimalID.aspx
Animal ID Commission Selects Technology Partner
NCBA Delivers Industry-based Solutions, Faster Timeline
DENVER (July 6, 2005) – After an extensive evaluation process, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Animal Identification Commission has selected a team led by BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE:BE), as the lead technology consultant for its industry-based, multi-species animal identification program. BearingPoint, working with ViaTrace, Microsoft and S&H Marketing, will provide the platform for information storage for the industry-led national animal identification program. Details of the agreement are being finalized.
The Animal Identification Commission was created as a result of a member-developed policy that charged NCBA with developing a solution for implementation of a national animal identification system for multiple species, including cattle. NCBA members chose to lead this initiative because they want to protect producer rights and confidentiality. While federal and state animal health authorities will be able to access relevant parts of this database to trace back in the event of a disease outbreak or animal health-related incident, the data will remain the property of the individual and stored with a multi-species consortium to maintain confidentiality.
The selection was conducted through a three-phase process. The Commission initially issued a request for information to allow companies to provide background on their capabilities. Based on these submissions, a request for proposal for a specific scope of work was requested of companies whose capabilities met the technology needs. These proposals were narrowed to a group of finalists who were all individually interviewed by the Commission members.
“One of the goals of the selection process was to bring the best solution to the industry in terms of identification technology and to find the solution that offers the best value and utility for cattlemen,” said Allen Bright, Nebraska cattle producer and animal identification coordinator for NCBA. “While we received input from many quality vendors, the Commission feels that the BearingPoint team is best equipped to deliver an information storage system that is both robust and secure in a timely fashion.”
More than 10 companies were considered during the initial request for information. The BearingPoint team was selected for the group’s experience in large system integration efforts and its demonstrated understanding of producers’ and state and federal government needs.
Another top priority for the Commission was the speed with which a national animal identification system could be implemented. While USDA has announced plans to have a program in place by 2009, the Commission’s desire was to significantly expedite this timeline. As a result, the BearingPoint team is expected to Beta test the system by October 2005, and to be fully operational by January 1, 2006.
“Animal identification is a top priority for all sectors of the beef industry,” Bright said. “Seeing an increased emphasis from consumers, feeders, packers, channel operators, international trading partners and federal and state government authorities, the Commission feels that having an identification program in place by fall of 2005 is essential. Many of our domestic and international customers are requesting identification already, and we believe a market-driven solution is quicker and better protected than a bureaucratic, government solution.”
NCBA’s Executive Committee reviewed the recommendation from the Animal ID Commission this morning and approved unanimously a motion to move forward with this partner and a multi-species consortium that will serve as the non-profit entity to provide oversight to the system. This consortium is expected to include representatives from all affected animal industries.
NCBA views a voluntary, industry-based national identification program as a critical tool for adding value and maintaining profitability for livestock producers. While the system must meet the government’s needs for trace back within 48 hours, NCBA does not feel the program should be government-operated. Instead, NCBA proposes to turn governance of the program over to a multi-species consortium that can better reflect the needs and views of livestock producers. A system governed by producers also has more incentive to contain costs, greater ability to keep information confidential, and can remain focused on the goal of adding value through an effective and efficient identification program.
“Talk wasn’t good enough for NCBA cattlemen members. They charged NCBA, as a leader in the livestock industry, to take action and get this program off the ground. The working infrastructure needed to be created in order for a consortium to come together. This project will be turned over to a consortium to manage,” said Missouri cattleman Mike John, NCBA president-elect and chairman of the Animal Identification Commission. John emphasized, “As a non-profit entity, this consortium will not be a revenue generator for any livestock organization, including NCBA.”
In addition to forming the consortium, next steps include creating the funding mechanism and formation of business rules.
“NCBA members gave us a clear directive in terms of animal ID,” said John. “They did not want us to sit and wait for a government-imposed program that had the very real potential of making confidential information available to a whole host of non-industry parties. They wanted an industry solution that added value, minimized costs and protected their confidentiality - and they wanted it sooner, rather than later. NCBA continues to deliver on this promise.”
The Animal ID Commission included cattlemen from Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.
Find more information on NCBA’s efforts to implement a national animal identification system at:
http://www.beefusa.org/AnimalID.aspx