CDS Background
Founded in 2019, CDS is a diverse, cross-functional team of senior engineers, human-centered design specialists, product managers and procurement and contracting specialists within the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT).
CDS does not independently own projects or technology. We partner as consultants and teammates to get high-value tech work done.
We can help a team think strategically about how their technology products fit within a larger service, while also rolling up our sleeves to help get the work done. We believe building and sustaining successful technology requires effective product management, user experience research and design, communication management, vendor management, and development. We support the delivery of user-centric, outcomes-oriented programs through effective technology and practice.
L to R in picture, recent CDS Director Matthew McAllister, Governor Jared Polis, and CDS's first Director Kelly Taylor
In my short time as a member of the Colorado Digital Service, I have been struck by how much of our work happens far from the bleeding edge of technology. While we are technologists by trade, our lasting transformation and innovation come in helping our partners peel back layers of bureaucracy to imagine a different future. The most radical and impactful work I’ve observed is rooted in a culture of simply asking: How? How can we make this easier for people in Colorado to use? How can we make it just a little bit better? How can we help?
By partnering closely with agencies and immersing ourselves in their challenges, we help them envision possibilities they may never have considered. Once they’ve contemplated the possibilities, we facilitate, implement and manage those changes. After all, change is hard and having a trusted partner makes it easier.
This process of questioning, reimagining and refining may not grab headlines, but it's where real, lasting change happens. The greatest impact lies in a streamlined workflow, a simplified form, or a more human-centered approach to service delivery. It's how we've helped agencies reduce administrative burdens, improve user experiences and better serve Coloradans.
These partnerships have led to tangible change for people in Colorado. When I look at the partnerships we built, which you’ll read more about in this report, I am struck by the impact we’ve had—from figuring out how to deliver home COVID tests quickly and cheaply to launching OwnPath, a care directory for behavioral health. These changes are small but impactful.
As we look to the future, CDS remains committed to this approach of thoughtful innovation. We'll continue to leverage technology where it truly adds value, but our focus will always be on the fundamentals: understanding user needs, simplifying complex systems, building services that truly work for people and partnering to maximize our impact.
Sincerely,
Sarah Tuneberg, Director, the Colorado Digital Service
Founded in 2019, CDS is a diverse, cross-functional team of senior engineers, human-centered design specialists, product managers, and procurement and contracting specialists within the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). CDS’ mission is to help mature state agencies’ approaches to delivering high-quality products and services to all of Colorado by focusing on people, processes, and technology. We practice modern software delivery practices, including human-centered design, agile iterative development, DevSecOps, and modular active procurement and contract management. We believe these methods allow the state to deliver better products and services to Coloradans.
CDS does not own projects or technology independently. We partner as consultants and teammates to get high-value tech work done. We help teams think strategically about how their technology products fit within a larger service, while also rolling up our sleeves to help get the work done. We believe building and sustaining successful technology requires effective product management, user experience research and design, communication management, vendor management, and development. We support the delivery of user-centric, outcomes-oriented programs through effective technology and practice.
Mandate:
Using a community-centered and outcomes-based approach, the Colorado Digital Service (CDS) partners with agencies to design, build, and buy sustainable technologies that help Coloradans thrive.
CDS Practices:
Seeking and solving the root problem
Outcome-oriented product management
Co-design with community members
Agile procurement and modular contracts
Iterative, incremental development
Building technology that delivers value for the users
Five years ago, announcing the launch of CDS, Governor Polis shared a video where he said, “Technology makes it easy for us to get the information and buy the products we love with just a few taps… <taps a few times on a cell phone> Interacting with the state government should be just that easy.”
Today, the public continues to demand the same level of convenience, speed, and personalization from their government that they experience everywhere else in their daily digital lives. Yet, government services are, appropriately, held to higher standards regarding privacy, equity, and cost efficiency. The government is charged not with making money, but delivering services that residents can trust. This complex landscape requires digital transformation that goes beyond simply moving paper-based processes to online systems. It involves reimagining government services from the ground up, with a single focus on users.
When done right, digitally effective governments should:
- Enhance accessibility and convenience for citizens
- Improve efficiency and reduce costs
- Increase transparency and accountability
- Enable data-driven decision-making
- Respond more quickly to changing needs and crises
- Promote equity and inclusivity in service delivery
Importantly, digital transformation has the potential to increase equity in government service delivery significantly. By removing physical barriers to access, digital services can reach underserved communities more effectively. For example, online applications for benefits can be accessed 24/7, eliminating the need secure transportation and take time off work to commute to government offices to submit applications in person.
At the same time, we must take care not to assume that every emerging innovation is automatically the right fit for digital government. With the spread of Generative AI, we must be cautious about tech adoption, and be transparent when and why we adopt it.
During our first five years, the Colorado Digital Service was humbled to work alongside people and businesses in Colorado to bring user-centered methods into government. As we look to the next five years, we are excited to keep iterating - one service at a time - to deliver fast, secure, and personalized interactions.
Project Spotlights: Embedding for Impact
Speed, Safety, Savings: Colorado's Innovative Procurement for COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Challenge: Faced with the urgent need for a contact tracing system during the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado needed to rapidly procure an effective solution. Traditional government procurement processes are often lengthy and paper-heavy, potentially delaying critical public health responses. The Colorado Digital Service (CDS) needed to find a way to prioritize real-world functionality and speed without sacrificing quality or due diligence.
Leading the Nation: Colorado's Rapid Deployment of ENx
Challenge: As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in 2020, Colorado, like many states, was seeking every possible solution to combat the spread of the virus. Traditional public health measures such as testing, contact tracing, and social distancing were already in place, but the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic demanded innovative approaches. The challenge was to identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies that could complement existing efforts and potentially save lives, all while ensuring public trust, protecting privacy, and encouraging widespread adoption.
Universal Preschool Program: Transforming Early Childhood Education Access
Challenge: In 2022, new legislation established Colorado's Universal Preschool Program (UPK) to provide up to 30 hours of free preschool. The newly formed Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) had to launch this statewide program by the 2023-2024 school year, presenting significant technical and logistical hurdles.
Streamlining State Reporting for Behavioral Health Providers
Challenge: On July 1 2022, Colorado established the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). Designed to centralize mental health and substance use services, and address the longstanding “administrative burden” plaguing providers, digital-era technology and data systems were required to help providers reallocate time from manually reporting of data, back towards client care.
Quality First: Modernizing Colorado's Payroll System with QASP and Automated Testing
Challenge: In 2023, the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) embarked on modernizing the state's 40-year-old payroll system. This legacy system was outdated, inefficient, and potentially prone to errors. The challenge was not just to update the technology, but to do so in a way that would improve efficiency, reduce errors, and ultimately allow state employees to focus more on their core responsibilities rather than administrative tasks.
People Spotlights
Get to know some of the key players who've driven CDS' success over the years. Follow this link to read about their big wins, challenges, and advice.
Colorado's Digital Future: Five Year Plan
- A unified digital identity and access management strategy and service.
- A reimagined colorado.gov web experience that works closely with myColorado.
- An improved customer experience for all Coloradans in how they interact with the State of Colorado digital experience.
- Building capacity in prodict management, human-centered co-design, agile procurement, active contracts management, and customer experience excellence.
Recognition of key supporters and champions:
- Theresa Szczurek
- Tony Neal-Graves
- David Edinger
- Tony Gherardini
- Lisa Kauffman
- Kara Veitch
- Ben Henderson
- Jesse Marks
- Kachina Weaver
- David Oppenheim
- Members of the Colorado General Assembly Joint Technology Committee and Joint Budget Committee
- Jeff Bridge
- Brianna Titone
- Megan Smith
- Erik Mitisek
- Ryan Martens
- Tim Miller
- Brad Feld
Gratitude to the broader civic tech community:
- US Digital Response
- US Digital Service
- 18F
- Presidential Innovation Fellows program
- US Digital Corps
- Code for America
- Tech Talent Project
- Canadian Digital Service (the other “CDS”)
- New Jersey Office of Innovation
- CODE PA
- Beeck Center for Social Impact & Innovation
Governor Jared Polis proclaimed Oct. 17, 2024 to be Colorado Digital Service Day. This recognition highlights the remarkable impact CDS has had on improving the lives of Coloradans through innovative technology solutions.
We're thrilled to take this day to celebrate and share the work we're doing to continuously help Coloradans thrive.
