NYC Department of Finance (DOF)

Client & Agency

The New York City Department of Finance (DOF), specifically the City Register's Office, manages the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS). ACRIS is the public web registry for all real estate transactions across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, handling over 5 million daily requests and processing approximately $5 billion in transactions annually. Nimbletec provided expert technical assessment services via consulting partner CTGI.

The Challenge

The DOF embarked on a massive modernization project for the high-volume, high-stakes ACRIS system. This required independent, expert evaluation of complex technical solutions and vendor proposals. Key challenges included:

• Evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed solutions for Optical Character Recognition (OCR) of scanned documents.
• Assessing vendor capabilities for accurate metadata extraction from complex real estate documents.
• Reviewing strategies for reliable private data redaction to ensure compliance and privacy.
• Analyzing proposed large-scale indexing solutions for performance and scalability under heavy load.
• Conducting rigorous build vs. buy analyses for each major technical component.
• Ensuring that all vendor deliverables strictly adhered to the comprehensive Functional and Non-Functional Requirements (F/NFRs) outlined in the city's procurement documents.

Solution by Nimbletec

Nimbletec delivered targeted Systems Architecture Assessment and Technical Deliverable Review services focused on the ACRIS modernization:

• Critically Evaluate Vendor Solutions: Performed in-depth technical reviews of vendor proposals and deliverables for OCR, metadata extraction, redaction, and indexing components, assessing technical feasibility, scalability, and quality.
• Conduct Rigorous Build vs. Buy Analyses: Collaborated with DOF stakeholders, industry experts, and vendors to conduct thorough analyses comparing the costs, benefits, risks, and timelines of building components internally versus procuring vendor solutions.
• Validate Requirements Compliance: Meticulously validated proposed technical solutions and vendor deliverables against the stringent Functional and Non-Functional Requirements (F/NFRs) specified in the DOF's procurement documentation, ensuring complete alignment.
• Provide Strategic Technical Guidance: Interfaced directly with DOF senior management, technical staff, and system integrators to provide clear, actionable technical assessments and recommendations regarding vendor selection and solution architecture.

Key Results & Impact

Nimbletec's expert assessment provided crucial assurance and guidance for the DOF's critical modernization project:

• Empowered Informed Procurement Decisions: Equipped DOF leadership with objective, expert technical evaluations to confidently select vendors and solutions for the ACRIS modernization.
• Guaranteed Vendor Accountability & Solution Quality: Ensured that chosen vendor solutions for the high-volume ACRIS system strictly adhered to rigorous technical requirements and quality standards through meticulous validation.
• Mitigated Implementation Risks: Proactively identified potential technical risks and feasibility issues associated with complex components like OCR and large-scale indexing early in the process.
• Ensured Alignment with City Objectives: Validated that the technical approach and vendor selections fully supported the DOF's objectives for a modern, reliable, and scalable real estate registry system.