Since you're in the PHP forum, I'll say PHP/MySql happens to be a suitable platform for a help desk application.

You could develop a system where user's can register and log in to report technical issues to different departments and your system can help route that problem to the appropiate department(UNIX, WINDOWS, SOFTWARE, HARDWARE etc)

Once the problem is corrected you can create a trigger in the DBMS that will notify the user via email . This is just a premise I think you could consider for your proj. Iam sure you can customize it to fit your sr. proj base on staffing and other issues.