System modernization

IBM, Red Hat to Help Modernize Education Department’s Grants Management System

IBM and software company Red Hat have been included in a five-year collaboration effort to modernize the Department of Education‘s G5 grants management system. The initiative is led by Innosoft Corp.

Under the deal, Red Hat will provide technologies alongside Amazon Web Services while IBM will provide industry expertise. All companies will replace the current G5 system with an open and flexible cloud-based system that should enable equal access to educational opportunities.

Using open and hybrid cloud technologies should allow the department to reduce complexities while modernizing operations, IBM said Thursday.

The modernized solution is expected to streamline processes and minimize disjointed grants systems, offer advanced applications and collaboration tools, apply a user-centered design and Agile methodologies and incorporate future technology advancements and compliance requirements.

IBM Consulting will also work with Innosoft as a technology strategist and project architect. IBM Consulting will help consolidate and migrate data from the current G5 system to AWS.

The new G5 system will be built on Red Hat OpenShift, an enterprise Kubernetes platform that allows users to choose where to build, deploy and run applications.

OpenShift will also give the Education Department a consistent foundation for developing and deploying applications across hybrid cloud environments.

The G5 system is a full lifecycle solution for educational grants management. It handles grants applications, peer reviews, awards, payment, performance monitoring and final closeout.

IBM and Red Hat both offer cloud, artificial intelligence, data and analysis and blockchain support services to clients in various sectors.