In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 442
										July 8, 1999

MEMORANDUM

To:		Administrative Officers
		Site Administrators

From:		Kelly L. Bradley
		Chief, Financial Operations and Reporting Section, WRD

Subject:	Flashpoint Implementation

The Water Resources Division along with the other divisions in USGS has
purchased a software package called Flashpoint.  Flashpoint is a desktop
software package, which will compliment the current Federal Financial System
(FFS).  Flashpoint will enable users to enter data via Remote Data Entry (RDE)
and query FFS data in a "Windows" type environment. This software runs on a NT4
Server or a NT/95 Workstation and can be downloaded off the Internet. 

WRD along with the other divisions in USGS have piloted Flashpoint and
determined it feasible to implement at this time. Cost Centers should have
their System Administrator download and install the software. The software
download and the Flashpoint User's Guide are located under web address
http://136.177.71.252. Instructions for installing the Flashpoint software are
located in Chapter 1 of the Flashpoint User's Guide. You will need a password
for the installation process.  We will be emailing this password immediately. 
This password will change every two weeks.  We will update you as needed.

If you are trying to use MOSAIC to download your software you will not be able
to complete the installation. You must complete the installation by using the
Headquarters server.  The steps are as follows: 

Type:ftp qvarsx.er.usgs.gov
Login with id:  anonymous
Enter your userid as password

Type the following commands:

Cd /pub/FLASHPOINT
bin
prompt
mget *
quit


If you have any questions or problems with installing using the Headquarters
server please contact Ray Munch (rfmunch) or  at 703-648-5258.

Upon making the transition from FFS RDE to Flashpoint, cost centers are
required to contact the OFM System Administrator for FFS, Pete Fox at (703)
648-7623 or Debbie Burton at (703) 648-7671 and provide him with the FFS ID's
within your cost center. Pete will provide access to the 8* documents and will
set the auto document numbering to the next available number, in order to avoid
duplicate document numbers within FFS and AIS.  After OFM has given access to
the 8* documents please send email to Michele O'Meara (momeara) in the
Financial Operations and Reporting Section notifying us that your cost center
is implementing Flashpoint and the number of user licenses.  This will assist
us in tracking which WRD cost centers have implemented and assist us in working
with the Office of Financial Management as we implement this new software in
the Bureau.

Attached is the Transition Plan for RDE via Flashpoint, which lists issues
associated with the transition from RDE to Flashpoint. The main impact for WRD
is that Flashpoint will provide standard data entry to be used by all
Divisions. For example, obligation documents will now be entered in Flashpoint
with a transaction code of 8O for all divisions, rather than 4O for WRD, 7O for
GD, etc. When Flashpoint is implemented, users will use the 8* documents except
for modifications and cancellations to existing RDE documents. (Modifications
and cancellations to existing RDE documents will need to be processed through
FFS, using 4* documents.)

Questions regarding the Flashpoint software should be directed to the FFS
Hotline at (703) 648-7600 (ffs_hotline), or contact Michele O'Meara at (703)
648-5042 (momeara).