Water Resources Discipline ITAC Activities

The CIOs also requested (through an amendment to the motion) that an easy exception process be created for remote field work. USGS as an example, has hydrologists that work on stream gages in the most remote and rugged terrain in the country. In many cases, only a single local provider is available. For USGS, this is a safety of life issue.

---------------------------------------------------
Kevin T. Gallagher
Acting Chief Information Officer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: 703-648-6828
----------------------------------------------------

At the December 16th ITMC meeting bureau CIO’s expressed continued support of the commercial wireless initiative. A unanimous vote by the CIOs confirmed the ITMC direction for multiple vendors and technologies through either multi vendor awards or using the integrator approach. The single vendor approach is not supported by the CIOs and should be dropped from consideration. Another concern the ITMC expressed is that the solicitation package and evaluation factors be developed that allow for a comparison between multiple service providers and integrators. The evaluation process should be used to determine the best value to DOI. The ITMC will have final approval authority for a requirements document and the solicitation package.

Continue moving forward and I hope to join the January 11th, 2005 conference call.

Fax to BIA Bob Harnage, 505-248-6779 (voice 505-248-6375)

****************************************************
Timothy S. Quinn
Chief, Telecommunications Systems Division - OCIO
US Department of the Interior
Enterprise Services Center
625 Herndon Parkway
Herndon VA 20170
Office Phone: (703) 487-8551
Cell Phone: (240) 423-3292
Mail: tquinn@ios.doi.gov
****************************************************

Skip,

Have added Michigan and Utah in blue now. I think that is just about everybody.

Brian

Attachment

Brian E. McCallum, Assistant District Chief, Georgia District
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130
Atlanta, GA 30360
P: 770.903.9127
F: 770.903.9199

Skip,

Here is an updated list of the cellphone requirements. I have added the results from Virginia, Illinois, and a revision from our Miami office in BLUE. My previous email was incorrect about Montana. They did supply their information. I will let Sandy update his version of this spreadsheet to give the new vendor totals.

Thanks,

Brian

Brian E. McCallum, Assistant District Chief, Georgia District
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130
Atlanta, GA 30360
P: 770.903.9127
F: 770.903.9199

Team, to ensure that all concerns are being considered in the Cell Phone initiative our Water Resources discipline quiered thier offices on their cell phone useage and the impact it has on their operations. I said that I would forward their cell phone useage to the Cell Team so that their concerns would be know and could be considerd in the new contract. Please take time to take a look at the attachment and include it in our agenda for discussion for our conference call next week.

Robert (Skip) L. Dutrow
USGS Radio Liaison Officer/
Telecommunications Specialist
MS809
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
WK 703-648-7017
Fax 703-648-4250
E-Mail: rdutrow@usgs.gov

----- Forwarded by Robert L Dutrow/GIO/USGS/DOI on 12/03/2004 06:20 AM -----

Skip,

As was discussed during your conference call to the ITAC a few weeks ago, here is a fairly detailed listing of the cell phone requirements from the field folks in almost every state and the Caribbean. I did not get replies from Utah, Montana, Virginia, and Illinois (probably due to the holiday week). This will give you a very good overview of cellphone usage across the US.

The spreadsheet lists each District (or State), the geographic region of the state that each vendor covers, the vendor name, the type of service, why the service is needed, who the local POC is, and other general remarks. Although the intent of the data request was for field use, some districts replied back with usage for typical non-field folks as well. I also took the liberty of changing these non-field folks' area of coverage, which was usually nationwide, and scaled it down to their districts.

To stress how much stir the moratorium has caused, within 24 hours of sending out my email, I had received more than 20 responses. The field folks require this service because their lives are dependent on it. It also saves a lot of time and money being able to communicate and coordinate field operations. Several districts also depend on cellular communications to their streamgages, which is a business-critical function. To consolidate the cellular plans could put lives at risk if a different vendor with lesser coverage is selected versus their current vendor.

It seems plausible that an effort to consolidate the "non-field" cellular usage could be beneficial, such as for district management and administrative persons, but we need to make a very strong argument concerning the use of cellular phones by field personnel. It would be best that field use phones were not considered at all, thus not even requiring the additional work of obtaining any necessary waivers.

I hope this helps. A lot of anxious people await this outcome.

Thanks,

Brian

Brian E. McCallum, Assistant District Chief, Georgia District
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130
Atlanta, GA 30360
P: 770.903.9127
F: 770.903.9199

Thanks, Kevin. I have shared this with Ingrid Caples. One of the discussions that Ingrid is having with the commercial wireless team concerns promoting the idea of having a multi vendor contract. This supports that.

Satellite phones may not be included in the scope of this contract - I noticed a few in the list. Are any of the suppliers on this list other than Globalstar and Iridium sat phones? My assumption is that continued use of a variety of sat phones will continue to be required.

****************************************************
Timothy S. Quinn
Chief, Telecommunications Systems Division - OCIO
US Department of the Interior
Enterprise Services Center
625 Herndon Parkway
Herndon VA 20170
Office Phone: (703) 487-8551
Cell Phone: (240) 423-3292
Mail: tquinn@ios.doi.gov
****************************************************

Thank You Sandy!

Yes, I think it does help to show the major suppliers of cell phone coverage for USGS hydrology. As we all know, rivers and streams are typically in low lying areas. Also, the USGS has water gages in very remote places, distributed broadly across all 50 states. This makes coverage by any single vendor impossible. The dangers of working (sometimes with dangerous equipment) in these remote areas is apparent.

So while the list, sorted by major suppliers is very helpful, I don't want to lose sight of the fact that there are many places that the major suppliers don't serve.

In these places we must ensure that we preserve the ability to use the carrier with the strongest signal and greatest coverage. As discussed at ITAC, this is a major safety issue that cannot be compromised.

I am copying Tim Quinn, the DOI Telecommunications Manager to ensure appropriate visibility to this issue.

Thanks again to Brian and Sandy for gathering these requirements.

---------------------------------------------------
Kevin T. Gallagher
Acting Chief Information Officer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: 703-648-6828
----------------------------------------------------

while on the train today, i took Brian's file and made a few changes for consistency so items would sort together and totaled by type of service and vendor. there are two worksheets, one for the totals and one for the details.

nice Job, Brian, hope this helps, Kevin.

Sandy (Alex K.) Williamson akwill@usgs.gov 253-428-3600x2683 (-3614fax) C:253-376-8273 h:253-531-1481
NAWQA Nat'l Data Base Team Leader, US Geological Survey, Tacoma WA 98402 water.usgs.gov/nawqa/data

Thanks much for taking the lead on this Brian...

We are very pleased to be able to present your requirements to DOI in the hopes that it will ensure the necessary coverage for the field!

Respectfully,

Kevin

---------------------------------------------------
Kevin T. Gallagher
Acting Chief Information Officer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: 703-648-6828
----------------------------------------------------

Thank You Sandy!

Yes, I think it does help to show the major suppliers of cell phone coverage for USGS hydrology. As we all know, rivers and streams are typically in low lying areas. Also, the USGS has water gages in very remote places, distributed broadly across all 50 states. This makes coverage by any single vendor impossible. The dangers of working (sometimes with dangerous equipment) in these remote areas is apparent.

So while the list, sorted by major suppliers is very helpful, I don't want to lose sight of the fact that there are many places that the major suppliers don't serve.

In these places we must ensure that we preserve the ability to use the carrier with the strongest signal and greatest coverage. As discussed at ITAC, this is a major safety issue that cannot be compromised.

I am copying Tim Quinn, the DOI Telecommunications Manager to ensure appropriate visibility to this issue.

Thanks again to Brian and Sandy for gathering these requirements.

---------------------------------------------------
Kevin T. Gallagher
Acting Chief Information Officer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: 703-648-6828
----------------------------------------------------

while on the train today, i took Brian's file and made a few changes for consistency so items would sort together and totaled by type of service and vendor. there are two worksheets, one for the totals and one for the details.

nice Job, Brian, hope this helps, Kevin.

Sandy (Alex K.) Williamson akwill@usgs.gov 253-428-3600x2683 (-3614fax) C:253-376-8273 h:253-531-1481
NAWQA Nat'l Data Base Team Leader, US Geological Survey, Tacoma WA 98402 water.usgs.gov/nawqa/data

Thanks much for taking the lead on this Brian...

We are very pleased to be able to present your requirements to DOI in the hopes that it will ensure the necessary coverage for the field!

Respectfully,

Kevin

---------------------------------------------------
Kevin T. Gallagher
Acting Chief Information Officer
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Voice: 703-648-6828
----------------------------------------------------

Brian,

Thanks for doing such a great job on this. I know Kevin will make sure our inputs are considered.

Terri "TJ" Moore
Western Region Computer Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey, Water Discipline
3020 State University Drive, East, Suite 3005
Sacramento CA 95819
Ph: 916-278-9553, Fax: 916-278-9556
Mobile: 916-869-0100
email: tejmoore@usgs.gov

Skip,

As was discussed during your conference call to the ITAC a few weeks ago, here is a fairly detailed listing of the cell phone requirements from the field folks in almost every state and the Caribbean. I did not get replies from Utah, Montana, Virginia, and Illinois (probably due to the holiday week). This will give you a very good overview of cellphone usage across the US.

The spreadsheet lists each District (or State), the geographic region of the state that each vendor covers, the vendor name, the type of service, why the service is needed, who the local POC is, and other general remarks. Although the intent of the data request was for field use, some districts replied back with usage for typical non-field folks as well. I also took the liberty of changing these non-field folks' area of coverage, which was usually nationwide, and scaled it down to their districts.

To stress how much stir the moratorium has caused, within 24 hours of sending out my email, I had received more than 20 responses. The field folks require this service because their lives are dependent on it. It also saves a lot of time and money being able to communicate and coordinate field operations. Several districts also depend on cellular communications to their streamgages, which is a business-critical function. To consolidate the cellular plans could put lives at risk if a different vendor with lesser coverage is selected versus their current vendor.

It seems plausible that an effort to consolidate the "non-field" cellular usage could be beneficial, such as for district management and administrative persons, but we need to make a very strong argument concerning the use of cellular phones by field personnel. It would be best that field use phones were not considered at all, thus not even requiring the additional work of obtaining any necessary waivers.

I hope this helps. A lot of anxious people await this outcome.

Thanks,

Brian

Brian E. McCallum, Assistant District Chief, Georgia District
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130
Atlanta, GA 30360
P: 770.903.9127
F: 770.903.9199

PLEASE REPLY BY DECEMBER 1ST, 2004

Dear data chiefs,

At the ITAC meeting I am currently attending, we were briefed on the cellphone moratorium that was recently emailed out to everyone, and the eventual goal to consolidate cell phone usage to leverage a lower cost to the DOI. Although a noble attempt to reduce costs, ITAC fears that this consolidation will potentially reduce our ability to communicate to our field folks--thus raising safety and decreased operational efficiency issues. I have been tasked to poll the data chiefs and compile the needed requirements of our field ops. In order to keep this fairly manageable, please generalize regions of your states and the vendor(s)/type of service that your field folks are using. Use the following as an example:

Please reply back by December 1st to me and I will compile a listing to HQ. Regional SW specialists--I ask your help to please make sure this is forwarded on to your districts and get a reply from them. I hear many times that the Data Chief email alias is not current.

Thanks,

Brian

Brian E. McCallum, Assistant District Chief, Georgia District
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130
Atlanta, GA 30360
P: 770.903.9127
F: 770.903.9199