Analysis: The construction management system can function acceptably no earlier than in 12 months

Prague - The system of digitized building procedures could be, according to an analysis for the government, in an acceptable state in an estimated 12 to 18 months. This is after involving around 50 people and increasing the amount for its development by 200 to 300 million crowns. This is indicated by a summary of the analysis prepared by a team from several ministries, which the Czech Press Agency (ČTK) has at its disposal. Representatives of the coalition parties Together referred to the analysis presented last week at a government meeting after Prime Minister Petr Fiala proposed to the president the dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates). Bartoš described the analysis as hastily put together points, noting that some aspects of it are off. He suggested that the analysis might have been created with the aim of justifying his dismissal.

Building authorities, builders, and other entities have complained about shortcomings in the digitized building procedures, which the Ministry for Regional Development launched on July 1. Bartoš has gradually received several deadlines to bring the system into a functional form. The analysis conducted by a team from the ministries of transport, finance, labor, and health recommends temporarily halting the development of new system functionalities, strengthening the capacity of development teams, and securing a robust contract rather than splitting the delivery into smaller contracts. The estimated 18 months required to bring the system into acceptable condition does not account for the time needed to select a supplier through a competition, which could take at least another six months according to the analysis.

According to the analysis, the current digitization of building procedures lacks certain functionalities required by law and necessary for digital management. The builder's portal and the Information System of Building Procedures (ISSŘ) have been deployed but are exhibiting problems. Documentation of construction processes and electronic documentation is being realized as a file service, the document warns. The National Geoportal of Spatial Planning was deployed in an unclear scope, and thus the analysis cannot evaluate it. The team from the ministries has not received access to its source code and developers.

The current problems with the systems are caused, according to the analysis, by the lack of a clearly defined business architecture and analysis. It is not clear how the final solution should look in terms of functionality. The minimum functionality was defined without the participation of officials, and many common user needs and scenarios are not covered. There has also been insufficient testing with users and training for them. Although modern technologies were chosen for the development, the implementation shows signs of hasty processing, the summary of the analysis states.

Therefore, the team of representatives from four ministries recommends, among other things, conducting a business analysis of the needs of building authorities and defining minimum functionalities of the systems for the fourth quarter of this year. Until then, it recommends temporarily suspending further development. At the same time, the current functionalities should be stabilized, and deficiencies affecting operations should be eliminated. Without the development of new functionalities, basic repairs could be estimated to be completed by the end of this year.

In the first half of 2025, it will be necessary to increase the number of developers, as currently, according to the analysis, only five developers are working on the ISSŘ, which the team considers "absolutely inadequate." Furthermore, adequate user support should be ensured; in the current rapid repair mode, users are not receiving proper information about what is new and how to use the updates, according to the creators of the analysis.

"This is not an analysis, but a few hastily put together points in a PowerPoint presentation presented by a subordinate of the minister (of labor Marian) Jurečka from Together. It reached journalists so quickly that it's worth asking whether it was prepared with the knowledge that it would subsequently serve as justification for my 'departure' from the government," Bartoš wrote on the X network. According to him, the analysis contains data provided by the Ministry for Regional Development, such as the claim that planned costs are realistic, since the total volume of the original contract was supposed to be 400 million crowns and about a quarter has been invested so far.

"Suppliers for all parts of the digitization of building procedures have already been tendered - the development plans are publicly known," Bartoš stated. The analysis contains, according to him, incorrect data, for instance, concerning the number of developers working on the systems. "It is definitely not five unfortunate people doing everything alone. We have dozens of people for this, and contracts confirm that. We wanted to supplement the management team, as stated in the presentation. Similarly, the generous 12 to 18 months for completing the systems is not a realistic estimate. It only makes sense if the presentation was supposed to get out…," he added.

From a legislative perspective, the analysis suggests that a transitional period should be established during which it will not be mandatory to use the ISSŘ, and it will not be possible to request statements from owners of transport and technical infrastructure through the builder's portal. Building authorities are currently still conducting ongoing procedures under the old building law and mostly using locally installed software.

Fiala proposed to President Petr Pavel to dismiss Bartoš by the end of September, justifying it with the unmet digitization of building procedures. The Prime Minister asked the Pirates for a nomination of his successor, but they consider the Prime Minister's decision a betrayal and a violation of the coalition agreement, which means their expulsion or "kicking out" of the government. The government has tasked a team led by Minister of Transport Martin Kupka (ODS) with digitization today. Pavel intends to meet with Bartoš and other heads of government parties on Monday and then decide on further steps.