Water Resources Discipline ITAC Activities

Fellow AOs,

For your convenience, I have summarized the meeting minutes from the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) meeting held in Little Rock, Arkansas, November 16-18, 2004. I pulled out the portions that I thought would be of most interest to AOs, however, you may access the minutes in their entirety by going to http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/itac/minutes/littlerock_0411/.

Notes of potential interest to Administrative Officers from the November 2004 ITAC meeting:

• Bureau PC Software license costs—Historically, the Geographic Information Office (GIO) has covered the cost of the Microsoft licenses for the Bureau based on an estimate of 9,500 desktops. Once Active Directory is implemented, the actual numbers are likely to come in higher and because the costs absorbed by the GIO were based on an estimated number, the cost of additional licenses ($200 for each additional license) may be passed on to cost centers in FY06. In anticipation of this, districts may want to consider minimizing the numbers of laptops and desktops to those necessary to conduct business. Additional information regarding this issue will be coming from the GIO in January.
  
• E-Authentication/Smartcard Deployment—As part of its Information Technology (IT) plan, the Department of the Interior (DOI), will be moving toward Smartcard technology. As a result, all employees will be getting a new ID card with two computer chips on it. The new ID card will replace the current card and will be used for authentication for computer and software access and possibly for building entry in GSA-controlled space. The current implementation date is October 2005. Additional information regarding this will be coming out in the future.
  
• Bureau cellular phone contract implications—The Bureau is looking at setting up blanket contracts for cellular phone services. This concerned ITAC because not all vendors have service in all areas and this could be a potential safety issue for WRD field personnel. Brian McCallum, the ITAC Data Chief Representative, sent out an email to all Data Chiefs requesting a response for WRD cellular coverage/requirements for field operations. The responses were then compiled and forwarded to Skip Dutrow, WRD representative in headquarters. The Moratorium on purchasing cellular phone service was meant for putting a hold on “major” purchases that require a contract commitment of more than 12 months or termination fees. Individual purchases can continue as long as they stay in these particular parameters. They plan to have a contract in place by the 2nd quarter of FY 05.
  
• Financial Business Management System (FBMS)—what are the objectives?

• Integration – to improve processes across all bureaus
  – Standardize and integrate financial and business processes
  – Provide business intelligence and analytical capabilities
  – Provide capability to balance workload
  
• Accountability – to improve program performance and attain unqualified audits
  – Record data properly, accurately, timely, efficiently with strong internal controls
  – Provide effective document and records management for functions covered by the FBMS
  – Migrate from the legacy environment to the FBMS environment using available risk minimization techniques
  
• Customer Value – to seek new ways to improve services
  – Satisfy requests for information
  
• Modernization – to modernize IT solutions and infrastructure
  – Leverage technology and adapt to changing requirements
  – Use proven business practices to improve performance and reduce operating costs
  
• Professionalism – to ensure the workforce has the skills necessary to achieve organizational goals
  – Foster employee retention, professionalism, creativity, excellence, and enable cultural transformation

What will FBMS do? Acquisition, Funds Management, General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Reimbursable and other Agreements, Project Management, Budget Formulation, and Asset Accounting

Issues, Gaps, Risks, Opportunities (IGRO), Operating during Continuing Resolution, Fund Split (FBMS currently not set up to do fund split), Administrative Match Funds, Budgeting Functionality, Employees with separate EFT accounts for payroll and travel (FBMS currently not set up to handle employees with multiple deposit accounts)

Proposed implementation for USGS is October 1, 2007 (Fiscal Year 2008)

Where to go for more information-http://internal.usgs.gov/ops/finance/fbms/fbms.html

http://ocrs.cr.usgs.gov/fs/pppres.html

• Next ITAC meeting—scheduled for a Southeastern Region district probably in February.

Donna J. Hector-Sabin
Administrative Officer, CAPP
Madison, WI
voice (608) 238-9333 ext. 102
fax (608) 238-9334