About RI.gov

RI.gov is the official government Web portal for the State of Rhode Island, and a team dedicated to developing online services to enable citizens or businesses to complete tasks via the Internet.

Who We Are

The RI.gov staff is employed by a private sector company Rhode Island Interactive which a wholly owned subsidiary of NIC USA, a publicly held company and the largest developer of eGovernment solutions in the nation. The State of Rhode Island has a long-term contract with Rhode Island Interactive to manage the RI.gov portal and to grow the number of available Web-based services.

What We Do

• Develop online applications that include searching for data, completing forms, renewing licenses, and paying taxes
• Design and build Rhode Island government Web sites
• Process credit card and electronic payments on behalf of the state and municipalities
• Offer consulting services to help improve government Web sites and online applications
• Work with third party vendors and developers to implement online payment solutions by credit card or electronic fund transfers.
• Market online services on behalf of the state to help bring attention to the benefits of online solutions developed by RI.gov
• Offer phone and email customer service to online service visitors and users

What We Don’t Do

• Provide ongoing maintenance for Web sites other than the RI.gov portal
• Install maintain or sell hardware solutions or backend systems
• Build Intranet sites or applications
• Work with any non-official government or municipal entity

How We’re Funded

RI.gov operates under an innovative self-funded model and is not supported by taxpayer dollars.

Revenue to support RI.gov comes primarily from enhanced access fees associated with some of the online services we create, host and maintain. In most cases these fees are collected from businesses completing transactions with the state. Portions of the enhanced access fees are used to increase both the number of fee and free e-government services available online.

Enhanced access fees for certain transactions completed online should be considered voluntary because in all cases those who do not wish to pay such enhanced access fees can avoid these costs by conducting state business through traditional methods such as through the mail or in person. Many of the services provided through R.I.gov do not include an enhanced access fee and are offered at no cost to users.

Our self-funded model means that RI.gov is operated as a for-profit company, but agencies and municipalities can take advantage of RI.gov resources at no cost.

Oversight of Our Operation

The Rhode Island Department of Administration (DOA) and Division of Information Technology (DoIT) manages portal resources and our Master Agreement with the state. This oversight includes setting overall priorities, approving projects, authorizing enhanced access fees and ensuring that the portal utilizes funds in the best interests of long-term growth.

About NIC

NIC is the leading provider of outsourced eGovernment portals. NIC builds and manages official government Web sites and eGovernment services for 21 states and hundreds of local governments in the United States. You can learn more about these partnerships at www.nicusa.com.

Our Staff

RI.gov currently employs six full time staff members based in our Providence office. You can learn more about out team on our staff page.

E-Mail:

rigov@nicusa.com