AIS Replacement Goals/Scope • Multi-user system access capability • Consolidate data from separate AIS instances • Real-time communication between sites • Mobile solution for remote distribution • Solution for rural areas with limited or no
telecommunications capability
AIS Committee • Formed under the auspices of NAFDPIR • Stakeholders provide necessary perspective
and expertise related to AIS • Mission: Identify, review, and prioritize
features within project scope regarding short- and long-term plans for the AIS Replacement System
• Meets on an ongoing basis to discuss the AIS Replacement System
AIS Committee Organization ITO representatives from each Region and representatives from FNS FDD Technology Branch Midwest/ Northeast
Mountain Plains
Southwest/ Southeast
Western FNS
Kristine Schwiderson
Brook Black
Elliott Sarracino
Gregory Nothstine
Linda Munday
Joe Van Alstine
Connie Thompson
Sam Spang
AC Sanchez
Dennis Sullivan
Anna Sterner
AIS Committee Responsibilities • Representing all FDPIR programs within their
respective Region and will serve as a liaison between those programs and the Committee
• Assist in the establishment of overall high-level priorities for the AIS replacement within the scope of the project
• Identify Subject Matter Experts to participate in pertinent discussions when needed
FNS Activities • Documenting AIS data model and associated
business rules is complete • Data migration solutions to move current AIS
data to the new system architecture are being assessed and an initial data extraction utility has been developed and is being tested
• Several technology visits have been conducted and additional visits will be scheduled
• Solution Analysis and Analysis of Alternative Solutions conducted
Solution Analysis Activities and Goals • Conducting analysis to choose the concept for
the product that will be acquired • Documenting current capabilities and translating
capability gaps into solution-specific requirements
• Conducting planning to support a decision on the acquisition strategy for the product
• Analysis of Alternative solutions, key trades between cost and performance, affordability analysis, risk analysis, and planning for risk mitigation
Solution Analysis of Alternatives • Status Quo • Improve existing system • Web-based production system (part of
WBSCM) • Develop a new custom solution • Cloud Solution - Software as a Service
(Saas)/application Platform as a Service (aPaas)
Alternative Analysis – Status Quo No Project – Keep the existing system Reasons for Not Selecting Alternative: • Outdated technology with limited support staff and difficult to
update with new user/program requirements • Distributed, disconnected installations impede collection of
current and accurate information • Limited auditing available within the system • No business process automation • Limited oversight capability due to data latency • Only one user can access each system installation at a time • Duplicate participant data entry required • Current lack of validations may create a number of data errors
Alternative Analysis - Enhancement Improve the existing system Reasons for Not Selecting Alternative: • Outdated technology cannot be sufficiently
enhanced to address concerns with existing system requirements
• Requires a new custom solution
Alternative Analysis – Web-based production system Implementation into a fully integrated, web-based production system (WBSCM) Reason for Not Selecting Alternative: • FNS not the system owner and governed by a multi-agency
project management office (AMS, FAS, FNS, FSA, and USAID) • Multi-agency environment limits the business focused
enhancements and maintenance priorities • Existing customer usability issues (not user-friendly) • SAP software customization has a significantly higher cost • Sizeable operational and maintenance costs • Introduces WBSCM to a higher level of security with the
inclusion of Personally Identifiable Information
Alternative Analysis - Customize Develop a New Custom Solution Reasons for Not Selecting Alternative: • Substantial cost to develop system • Software development process is lengthy • Significant operational and maintenance
costs • Not the strategy for USDA Foods computer
applications
Cloud Computing • Cloud computing is the delivery of hosted
services over the internet. • It enables companies to consume a compute
resource as a utility -- just like electricity -- rather than having to build and maintain computing infrastructures in house.
• Main benefits to cloud computing: • Self service provisioning • Elasticity • Pay per use
Cloud Computing Service Categories • Software as a Service (SaaS) – delivers
software applications over the Internet • Platform as a Service (PaaS) – hosts
software after it is developed • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – supplies
virtual servers and storage
Software as a Service (Saas)/ application Platform as a Service (aPaas) What makes Saas/aPaas ideal for this solution? • Cloud-based customer relationship management • Low setup costs • No hardware or software to maintain • Updates are automated • Usage is scalable • Accessible from any location • Cross device compatibility • Enterprise level cloud security
17 Technical Feasibility – SaaS/aPaaS Development
AIS
AIS Project
A Project
B Project
C Project
SaaS Platform
AIS
B
A C
• Accessible • Scalable • Cloud-Based • Consolidated
SaaS/aPaaS allows AIS and related USDA Foods applications to be consolidated into comprehensive platform
Benefits
AIS outdated technology and evolving requirements make a SaaS/aPaaS solution most beneficial for redesigning the system
Cost Effective
Scalable Infrastructure
Commitment
Proven Business Applications
Scale up or down with business requirements 24 x 7 availability Technology obsolescence is eliminated with regular upgrades
Low setup costs Rapid implementation enabling quick business transformation No hardware or software to maintain
Commitment from stakeholders
FNS, ITO, SDA,
NAFDPIR, and Tribal Leaders
Committee representation
Business software is cloud-based
Gives real-time business
intelligence
Enables standardization across operations
SaaS Possibilities A SaaS platform provides additional opportunities for FDD systems to: • Consolidate the number of USDA Foods
systems • Deliver updated technology • Offer integration with best in class
applications • Afford shorter execution times • Address evolving business operation
IT Capital Planning • Mandated by Congress and OMB • Agencies must actively manage its IT
program to provide assurances that technology expenditures are necessary and shall result in demonstrated improvements in mission effectiveness and customer service.
SaaS Vendor Selection Process • Market research and identify vendors – complete • USDA/FNS IT Capital Planning approvals – in progress • Sources Sought
• Announcement on FedBizOps that the Government is looking for sources to meet need
• Additional market research • Request for Information (RFI)
• Gain understanding of capabilities and qualifications of SaaS vendors
• Software capabilities questionnaire related to our needs • Evaluate responses from RFI • Vendor Demonstrations • Select SaaS Vendor
System Integrator Selection Process • USDA/FNS IT Capital Planning approval • Determine contract vehicle • Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Elicits bids from vendors proposing solutions and services to meet Government needs
• Competitive process • Evaluate responses • Contract Award
Next Steps to System Integration • Finalize acquisition strategy, acquisition plan,
and source selection plan • Continue to establish requirements that will
be used for preliminary design activities, development and production
• Complete planning for development and release of RFP for system development and integration
Development and Deployment • Agile methodology
• Short development cycles – sprints • User Stories – requirements • As a (role) I want (something) so that (benefit)
• Requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration
• Responsive to change
• Feature prioritization and development in consultation with AIS Committee
• Rapid feature development and delivery • Periodic demonstrations
Business Management Improvement • Project for USDA Foods process improvements
• Procurement, ordering & delivery
• Improve product availability • Long Term Contracting • Procurements at optimal times
• Reduce food costs • USDA Transportation Management
• Reduce administration costs
Business Management Improvement • Minimal direct FDPIR impacts
• Business processes do not change • Order, storage, distribution
• Demand Forecast • Long Term Contracting
• Establish Min & Max contract values • Communicate program needs to suppliers
• Supply and manufacture planning • Tools and training required