powerpoint presentation national software development
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National Software National Software DevelopmentDevelopment
NRCS National IT Seminar
September 2002
Ken Tootle, Integrated Accountability System Coordinator
Jack Carlson, Director, Information Technology Center
Ken Carpenter, ITC Field Support Team Leader
Objective of sessionObjective of session
Participants will understand:– The role of the Project Coordination
Committee in the software development process.
– The software approval process.– The future vision for agency software.– The major new software initiatives being
developed by the agency.
Project Coordination Committee Project Coordination Committee (PCC)(PCC)
Purpose - To develop information technology software budget recommendations for the NRCS top management
Sponsored by NRCS Chief Information Officer (Mary Thomas) for the Deputy Chief for Management (Dwight Holman)
PCC MembershipPCC Membership The PCC Core Team contains membership from
each NRCS Deputy Area– Ken Tootle, Strategic Planning and Accountability– Dave McKay, Programs– Larry Butler and Bill Hughey, Science &
Technology– Doug Holy, Management – Tommy Parham and Chris Clarke, Soil Survey and
Resource Assessment (co-chair)– Jack Carlson, Information Technology Center (co-
chair)
PCC RequPCC Requireirementsments
Understand Information Technology
Understand Agency
Business
Create Agency
IT Vision
PCC ResponsibilitiesPCC Responsibilities
Be familiar with the IT software development proposals for the Deputy Area
Be the spokesman for the “importance” and ranking of the proposals
Develop overall agency ranking of software proposals
Develop budget alternatives for Deputy Chiefs consideration
FY02 Ranking Criteria for FY02 Ranking Criteria for High PriorityHigh Priority
Congressional/legal mandate Chief’s priority Supports agency key decisions Programmatic/strategic Initiative Project conforms to technical IT architecture. Significantly enhances Field Office operations Lack of funding this fiscal year will result in customer
demands not being met in the near term.
FY02 Ranking Criteria for FY02 Ranking Criteria for High PriorityHigh Priority
Execution of project is not likely to slip, and adequate project staff is available with the required experience to execute the project.
Project affects cross-functional activities. Work process improvement results in reduced
administrative burden. Project is clearly defined with a definite completion
date. Total cost estimates are well supported.
FY02 Alternatives for fundingFY02 Alternatives for funding
Software Initiatives, Maintenance, and E-Government Initiatives
– PCC considered 116 budget proposals for a total cost of $28.5 million
– Recommended Alternative – $17.7 Million– Minimum Alternative - $14.9 Million– Core Maintenance – $7.4 Million– Actual - ~ $10 Million
FY03 Budget ProcessFY03 Budget Process
All budget requests were due to be submitted to Budget Allocations Division by September 6th, 2002
Must use approved form
FY03 Budget ProcessFY03 Budget Process Must detail the impact of the budget
proposal on the key agency initiatives– Farmbill Implementation– Presidents Management Agenda
Strategic Management of Human Capital Expanded Electronic Government Competitive Sourcing, Improved Financial Performance Budget and Performance Integration
– Increasing diversity and outreach– Improving technology delivery
FY03 IT Software FY03 IT Software DevelopmentDevelopment
Deputy will consider PCC recommendations and develop budget allocation
Software Sponsor notified Software Developed based on agreed
deliverables Software Tested and released
IntegratedAccountability
System
ProgramOperationsInformation
TrackingSystem
ManagementApplications
SmarTecheFOTG
Gateway&
Warehouse
Cost-ShareContracting
CustomerServiceToolkits
NRCSIntegrated Information
System
My.NRCS, WebCAAF, WebREG, SCIMS, Easements Toolkit, LESA Toolkit, eContracts, eFOTG, On-line Conservation Planner, OMS Run-off Curve Number, Resource Data Viewer, Resource Data Vegspec, GLA, NLEAP, PLANTS, ESIS, ITIS, NASIS, PRISM, SNOTEL, NRI, NPK Tool, Gateway, Resource Data Warehouses, Conservation Information System, Workload Analysis, PRMS, Outcomes, Soil Survey Scheduler, RC&D, Watersheds, AMA, FPP, PMT Research Needs, Workforce Planning, Skills, CAMS, OIP, SCIMS, WebTCAS, ACRES, On-line Vacancies, Directives, Agency Web Pages
ArcView, Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint Conservation Toolkit; Wetlands Toolkit, Soil Data Viewer, GLA, Manure Management Planner, OMS engineering design; Conservation Journal, RUSLE2, WEQ
Applications for NRCS Employees
T-3 Head-End
T-1 Local Loop
ServiceCenter
T-1 UUNET VPN
INTERNET
SD
HEWLETTPACKARD
SD
HEWLETTPACKARD
SD
HEWLETTPACKARD
SD
HEWLETTPACKARD
Web Farm
Printer
Plotter
Scanner
CCE Laptop
IBM AS/400
CISCOSYSTEMS Router
CCE Workstation
SDPROLIANT 1850RNetworkServer
CCE Laptop
CCE Workstation
100 mbps LAN
Pencomputer
PDA
Customer orThird Party Vendor
T-3 Access
Internet
UUNET
NRCS field employees use a browser to digitize conservation easement boundaries and manage associated technical determination data, photographs, and other documentation.
Customer Service Toolkits
Cost-Share Contracting
SCIMS
SCIMSApplication
SCIMS
SCIMSWeb
ServicesSvc 1Svc 2Svc 3Svc 4Svc n
SCIMSWeb
ServicesSvc 1Svc 2Svc 3Svc 4Svc n
WebRegW
ebC
AA
F
eContracts
Replication
SCIMSBatch
AS400Apps
eContracts App / App Serversession
state
Bro
wse
r
Web
CA
AF
Bro
wse
r
Q Q
Re
qu
est
Re
spo
nse
wit
hE
nve
lop
e o
f D
ata
Kansas City
Fort Collins
St. Louis
WSDLBusiness
Object
dataindxtransbackupfulldiftrans
eContracts x SCIMS Integration
NRCS employees and partners use a browser to enter and geo-reference between 5 and 10 thousand performance records each day, which are processed nightly in a data warehouse and marts to produce reports for field, state, and national managers.
IntegratedAccountability System
Program OperationsInformation Tracking System(POINTS)
ManagementApplications
USDA employees, partners, and the public use a web-based Geospatial Data Gateway to order and download Service Center Agency data sets available for the selected geographic area of interest.
Gateway / Warehouse
An estimated 10,000 NRCS employees and third party vendors will daily access the electronic Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) for information, technical guidance, and tools to assist in implementing the provisions of the new Farm Bill.
Smartech / eFOTG
The NRCS Runoff Curve Number (RCN)
tool is built on the ARS/NRCS Object
Modeling System (OMS) framework. The user digitizes the watershed
and land units to be evaluated, which are intersected with soil
mapunits and the resulting data file fed to the RCN model in OMS
NRCS Application
NRCS Tool Development(OMS Dev)
Processor
Processor
Processor
Processor
Processor
Processor
OMSManager
OMSInterface
NRCS OMS
ARS Model Development(OMS Dev)
SOAP Req/Model Data
Model Results
WSDL
Model Object
NRCS Object Modeling System (OMS)Implementation Architecture
8/26/2002
Modelor
Tool
SoilClimate
Plant/Crop
NRCS Data Warehouse
User Centric Model/Tool Design
USER
NRCS Lighthouse Web Services
Modelor
Tool
Modelor
Tool
IntegratedAccountability
System
ProgramOperationsInformation
TrackingSystem
ManagementApplications
SmarTecheFOTG
Gateway&
Warehouse
Cost-ShareContracting
CustomerServiceToolkits
NRCSIntegrated Information
System
Customer Service ToolkitsConservation, Wetlands, Easements, LESA
Cost-Share ContractingeContracts
Integrated Accountability SystemPRMS, WLA, WLMA, Outcomes, Conservation Journal
Program Operations Information Tracking System RC&D, Watersheds, Soil Survey Schedule, FFP, Plant Materials
Management ApplicationsiCAMS, WFP, Skills, webTCAS, ACRES, FFIS, IAS, OIP
NRCS Integrated Information System Applications
Gateway / WarehouseGateway, Soil Warehouse, NASIS, ESIS, PLANTS, PRISM
Smartech / eFOTGeFOTG, eThunderbook, RCN, On-Line Planner, Engineering Design Tools
Web Access and PortalsNRCS web site, My.NRCS
NRCS Integrated Information System Applications (cont’d)
NRCS Software Approval ProcessNRCS Software Approval Process
Ken Carpenter– Field Support Team Leader– ITC Fort Collins
HISTORY 101HISTORY 101
IT Representatives from RD, NRCS and FSA met in Kansas City 1999
– Developed CCE Testing Policy and Procedures
– CORE Software tested at IOL in Beltsville– NRCS Business Applications tested at ITC
ITC Test LabITC Test Lab
Established Test Lab at ITC with one of each CCE computer platforms
Computers ONLY used for testing and are under Strict configuration management
2 Federal Employees perform majority of work– Gay Marsh – System Admin and Testing– George Foster – Install Packages and Testing
Currently adding CCE Server to Lab
Testing WorkloadTesting Workload
Approx. 40 to 60 NRCS Apps submitted to ITC each year
– Between 1 and 2 Apps week either tested, repackaged or both
– Apps sent to ITC from every imaginable location (NHQ, States, Centers and Institutes, Field Offices)
– Additionally, other agencies, Universities, and Private Firms send apps for testing
Current Testing StrategyCurrent Testing Strategy
Halt CCE Certifying for NT 4.0 – Start Testing “FUNCTIONALITY” of NRCS
Business Apps in Windows XP– Some early issues with XP directory, file and
registry permissions– NRCS apps now appear to function properly– Establishing new Test Procedures using new
test tools for XP
Near FutureNear Future
NRCS Business Apps loaded via CD to Servers Maintain CCE Website for Certification List only
(NO file downloads) Utilize Microsoft’s Logo Requirements as
guidelines for Development and Testing XP Logos
– Compatible with XP– Designed for XP– Optimized for XP
Concerns/IssuesConcerns/Issues
Workload Burnout for ITC Testers Retirements are possible No contractor/funding testing support Workload is growing (Re-submissions) Testing too fast, maintaining App tracking XP Impact on Current CCE Certified apps
– New XP Certification Process?– Re-Certify 160+ NT apps into XP– Grandfather NT apps into XP and Certify only new
QUESTIONS?/QUESTIONS?/ANSWERS????ANSWERS????
USDA-NRCSInformation Technology CenterFort Collins, Colorado
Extra Stuff on IASExtra Stuff on IAS
Integrated Accountability Integrated Accountability SystemSystem
Recent accomplishments Future Plans
Major Information Components of the IAS – The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.
• Strategic Plan sets the direction and focus for the agency.
• Business and Performance Plans database
• Work Load Analysis(WLA)
• Performance Measurement Results System (PRMS)
• Total Cost Accounting System (TCAS)-
• Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS)
• Combined Administrative Management System (CAMS)
• Workforce Planning (WFP)
• Program databases for – WRP, WHIP, CRP, EQIP, Watersheds, RC&D, etc.
Goals of the IASGoals of the IAS A complete system with all data integrated
Easy access – web based – user friendly
Minimized field reporting - Maximized information usage
No side records
Centralized data links
Responsive to customers/conservation partners
Keep the system loosely integrated so that applications may be chosen by users as needed
New Improved Accountability ToolsNew Improved Accountability Tools
• Time and Cost Accounting on the WEB (WebTCAS)
• PRMS - State and Local Options• PRMS - Simplified Data Entry• PRMS - Map Based Data Entry• PRMS - Quarterly Goals• PRMS - Contributions to NRCS programs• Conservation Information System – Key
questions
What is the Conservation Information System?
Formerly Executive Information System (EIS)
A tool that provides direct on-line access to relevant information in a useful and navigable format.
Timely, accurate, and navigable.
Allows managers at all levels in the conservation partnership to easily access data for management, analysis, and planning.
CIS Implementation TimelineMilestones Date
CIS online and accessible with PRMS leadership level of security August 6
Announcement by bulletin that CIS is available for State Leadership August 9
Develop marketing plan August 30
Rollout to CET - Executive presentation September 3
NHQ train the trainer session September 5
Train the trainer sessions in East and West September 9-13
Begin evaluation period by state leadership September 16
WEBCAAF- Security System online October 1
CIS report availability decisions for WEBCAAF implementation October 1
Revise CIS for WEBCAAF security levels October 21
State leadership and above review comments due November 1
Revise CIS based on comments December 2
Revise training materials & provide to state trainers December 16
Open CIS to field level use with training January 1
MY.NRCS – Home of the CISMY.NRCS – Home of the CIS
Select the CIS tab
FY02 Alternatives for fundingFY02 Alternatives for funding Item Full Funding PCC Recommended Funding Customer Service Toolkit
$275,000 275,000
IAS - Maintenance $610,000 $610,000 $610,000
NASIS (National Soil Information System) $415,000 $325,000