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ePME is Now ePMA
Dateline: September 12, 2005
ePME successfully deployed its first production release a year ago. Having reached this defining milestone, and having received feedback from our users, we thought it appropriate to change the name from the E-government R&D Portfolio Management Environment (ePME) to the Electronic Proposal Management Application (ePMA). ePMA is focused on the electronic receipt and processing of National Laboratory proposals, whereas ePME connoted a broader-based goal of managing DOE’s R&D portfolio from the receipt of proposals to close-out of work.
ePME Reaches New MilestoneOn April 29, the Department of Energy concluded a three-month demonstration of the ePME system which affirmed the system’s ability to electronically route research and development proposals from National Laboratories to Headquarters Program Offices.
“Thanks to those who helped design, develop, and deploy ePME – and the support of Senior DOE Management – we now have a proven and reliable system for the electronic submission and approval of National Laboratory proposals,” said Vince Dattoria, ePME Project Manager.
A limited number of programs, comprising a representative set of the Department’s R&D portfolio, participated in this “production test,” using actual R&D proposals. Although the deadline for laboratories to submit R&D proposals in response to this year’s Field Budget Call has passed, the ePME system remains open for continued use. As of April 29:
During February through April, National Laboratories, Site/Operations Offices,
and participating Headquarters Program Offices exercised the ePME application
end-to-end, from the submission of proposals through their final approval
or declination by the program office. Principal investigators, technical
reviewers, budget analysts, program managers, and top officials were involved
in one or more aspects of the submission, review, and approval process.
The majority of the proposals processed were for the Office of Science. Although
the ePME system is designed to allow National Laboratories to respond to
the annual Field Budget Call by submitting proposals, FE was able to participate
to a limited extent because the system was modified to handle FE’s
Program Implementation Plans (PIPs).
EE’s participation in the production test and overall use of the ePME system is still evolving. EE staff and the ePME team are continuing to identify the requirements needed to bridge EE’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and ePME’s Field Work Proposal (FWP) formats. In the meantime, EE has trained select personnel on the ePME system and is defining an AOP/FWP workflow to complement the ePME workflow capabilities.
We will incorporate augmented features and functionality into an updated release of the system, which will be available for use in late 2005.
Improving ePME with User FeedbackThe ePME team has established a Software Change Request (SCR) process to improve the system and make it more user-friendly by asking users to recommend changes to the application. Recommendations can range from altering the application’s look and feel to adding functionality.
The SCR process begins when a system user in a National Laboratory, Site/Operations Office or Headquarters Program Office proposes a change to their ePME Site Administration Manager (SAM). If the SAM deems it a potentially helpful and feasible change, the SAM submits an SCR form to the ePME Helpdesk. The Helpdesk verifies the request and forwards the SCR to the SCR Coordinator and a Technical Evaluator. The SCR Coordinator logs the request and communicates the SCR’s status to the SAM. The Coordinator also posts the SCR status on the project Web site (http://epma.energy.gov/where/scrstatus.asp) so that the initial requestor, SAMs, and other stakeholders are kept informed. The Technical Evaluator reviews the SCR for feasibility and the level of effort required to implement the change, and provides a recommendation to the Joint Change Control Board (JCCB).
The JCCB oversees the software change request process and is responsible for evaluating change requests, verifying that changes adhere to established standards, and approving or denying SCRs. The Board is comprised of individuals from the ePME project team and has representation from the user community. JCCB members are:
SAMs have submitted more than 70 SCRs. Those deemed “in-scope” in an initial screening have been forwarded to a Technical Evaluator.
The JCCB is considering SCRs for inclusion in the next release of ePME. We encourage SAMs to continue to submit SCRs as they and their users identify ways to improve the application.
Production Test Fast FactsVince Dattoria is the new ePME Project Manager. Prior to assuming this role, Mr. Dattoria was the Technical Manager, Module I Manager, and Security Manager for the ePME project. Mr. Dattoria initially came to DOE headquarters on assignment as the senior technical advisor to the Director of the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI). Before coming to DOE headquarters, he was the Associate Director for Information Systems Development at OSTI. Mr. Dattoria has held several project and engineering roles in the Department of Defense for various infrastructure and information systems since he began his career in 1986.
Greg Long is the new ePME Technical Manager. For the past ten years, Mr. Long has been involved in managing information technology projects and strategic planning for the Office of Scientific and Technical Information in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Before joining OSTI, Mr. Long managed the Software Engineering Branch for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He holds a MBA in Information Systems and is PMP (Project Management Professional) certified through the Project Management Institute.
Kimberly Rasar, the former ePME Project Manager, is now performing CIO duties for the Office of Science. We thank Ms. Rasar for the leadership, direction and tireless effort she gave to the project. We wish her well in her new endeavor.
Production Test Underway
Dateline: February 30, 2004
ePME is open for business! On February 1, the ePME system began receiving research and development proposals from the national laboratories for a production test scheduled to last through the end of April. A limited number of programs comprising a representative set of the Department’s R&D portfolio are participating using actual R&D proposals. The ePME system will remain open for use after the test period ends.
As of February 1, ePME had already issued more than 100 IDs and passwords to licensed system users.
During the production test, laboratories are submitting R&D proposals for the FY 2005 execution year, the FY 2006 Initial Financial Plan, and the FY 2007 budget call, depending upon the business practices of the program. In some cases, programs are submitting proposals using the old paper process, as well as electronically through ePME.
The production test exercises the ePME application from end-to-end, from the submission of the proposal by the laboratory through the final approval or declination of the proposal by the program. Principal investigators, technical reviewers, budget analysts, program managers, and top officials will be involved in one or more aspects of the submission, review and approval process.
Following the production test, we will incorporate augmented features and functionality into the system. An updated system will be available for use by DOE headquarters, field/site/operations offices, and national laboratories in the late summer of 2005. The design of an enhanced version of the ePME system, which will accept all proposals from national laboratories, is scheduled to begin in FY 2006.
Production test participants include:
The National Nuclear Security Administration (Office of Nonproliferation Research and Engineering), though not a production test participant, is reviewing the system’s functionality during the test period.
Production Test OrganizationsDuring the Production Test, a limited number of programs comprising a representative set of the Department’s R&D portfolio are participating using actual R&D proposals. Laboratories are submitting R&D proposals for the FY 2005 execution year, the FY 2006 Initial Financial Plan, and the FY 2007 budget call, depending upon the business practices of the program. The following is a complete list of the participating organizations.
| Laboratories
Ames Laboratory Site OfficesAmes Site Office Headquarter Program OfficesScience (SC) Organizations SC-10 – Office of Basic Energy Sciences SC-20 – Office of High Energy Physics SC-30 – Office of Advanced Scientific Computing
Research SC-50 – Office of Fusion Energy Sciences SC-63 – Financial Management Division SC-70 - Office of Biological and Environmental Research SC-90 – Office of Nuclear Physics
|
Fossil Energy – FE FE-20 – Office of Clean Coal FE-30 – Office of Oil and Natural Gas FE-40 – Office of Petroleum Reserves FE-3 Office of Budget and Financial Management FE-7 Office of Environment, Security, Safety and Health National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Office of the Director Strategic Center for Coal Office of Coal and Power R&D Office of Major Demonstration Projects Strategic Center for Natural Gas and Oil Office of Natural Gas Office of Petroleum Office of Science, Technology and Analysis Office of Advanced Initiatives Financial Management Division Energy Efficiency – EE EE-2A – Solar Energy Technologies Program Nuclear Energy – NE NE-20 Office of Advanced Nuclear Research (AFCI program) National Nuclear Security Administration The National Nuclear Security Administration (Office of Nonproliferation Research and Engineering), though not a production test participant, is reviewing the system's functionality during the test period. |
Training Update
Dateline: October 28, 2004
We have developed a training strategy that provides sufficient training support to meet the needs of end users within the available time and resources. First, Site Administration Managers (SAMs) will be trained. After SAMs are trained, they will assist end users in accessing training materials and will provide a first line of Helpdesk support. To facilitate end user training, an online curriculum of training tutorials will be posted on the ePME project Web site. Training modules cover the following functions related to R&D proposals:
SAM training is a 3-step process. The first step was completed on June 26, 2004, during the SAM kickoff Webinar. 64 SAMs participated in Web-based training that included a live demonstration of the prototype system. The second step is an administrative training Webinar leading SAMs through the ePME system setup process. The first SAM group completed this training on October 19, 2004. Groups 2 and 3 will receive their training in November and December. The third step is hands-on classroom training on the ePME system, Helpdesk, and administrative responsibilities.
eIDK Beta Test a SuccessAnother successful milestone occurred on July 13-19, 2004, when Argonne National Laboratory staff verified the ability of the Electronic Interface Developer’s Kit (eIDK) to upload proposals during an eIDK beta test. The eIDK enables national laboratories to save substantial amounts of time by creating proposals using their existing systems, then submitting the proposals in batch mode to the ePME system. The eIDK uses standardized XML-based Web services accessible through the ePME system. The project development team received and vetted Agronne’s beta test feedback during a conference call on July 20, and was able to incorporate some of the testers’ recommendations into the eIDK’s final build. We are considering other feedback through the Change Control Process.
Prototype Evaluation ResultsA heart-felt thank you to national laboratory, field and site office, and headquarters staff who pilot tested the Electronic Receipt and Review prototype system earlier this year. Your “pilotship” enabled ePME to get off the ground with minimal bumps, fly a straight course, and helped the project team prepare the system for the upcoming production test. Your participation helps the Department take a bold step into the future of E-government. For a complete list of participants click here .
From March 9 to April 2, 2004, 57 people tested and evaluated a prototype of Electronic Receipt and Review developed from the commercial-off-the-shelf product PDMLink. The prototype evaluation fulfilled three objectives: 1) to configure out-of-the-box software and test a prototype version of Electronic Receipt and Review to verify the technical capability of PDMLink to address the required functions; 2) to verify the capability of PDMLink to perform the various business functions in the workflow; and, 3) to evaluate user to identify configuration requirements for the full release of Electronic Receipt and Review.
Following training on the prototype system, evaluators completed a series of test scenarios, and provided feedback to the development team. The pilot evaluation verified the technical capability of PDMLink to meet Electronic Receipt and Review requirements and allowed the project to proceed on schedule. Pilot activities also demonstrated that PDMLink could be configured to produce representative workflow scenarios and that pilot users could use the workflows to move proposals through the Electronic Receipt and Review system. The pilot evaluations also confirmed that the system could be configured to meet other user needs.
The complete evaluation report can be accessed by clicking here.
What is a SAM?SAM stands for Site Administration Manager. SAMs play an ePME leadership/liaison role in their organization in the implementation, training, and ongoing operation and support of the ePME system. SAMs are highly skilled, highly motivated, and highly appreciated. SAMs have a good understanding of their organization’s R&D proposal processes and have a high level of credibility in their user community. Each major organization (i.e., national laboratory, site/field/operations office, and headquarter PSO) has at least one staff member serving as a SAM.
SAMs perform the following functions:
| SAMs play a critical role in the success of the ePME system. Thank you to the following individuals who by offering to serve as SAMs are catalysts for change in their organization by advancing E-government. | |
| Jim Armstrong Melea Baker Rick Balthaser Terry Bearce Vicki Bender Mary Beth Mehi Andre’ Bethea Sharon Betson Richard Blogg David Bond David Boron Colette Brown Richard Budzich Jack Cadogan Kathryn Chantry Bruce Chrisman Ron Cutright Betty Dai Roxanne Danz John De Gregory David Dowdell Steve Eckstrand Carol Ferguson Cathy Hanlin Ila Haugen Bridget Haverty Jane Hiegel Bob Hilliard Roland Hirsch Wolfe Huber Carol Ingram DeAnn Ingram Marie Iseicz Srinivasan Iyer John Kasprowicz Denise Keiner Bryan Kendrick Thomas Kiess Ray Kimble Rick Klimkos Joe Konrade Dan Krivitzky Loreta K. Kurkowski Donna Lang Denise LaPorte Lora Larrance Ray LaSala Qonnie Laughlin Sarah Lawson Tyndal Lindler Doug Low |
Preston Maples SAM list as of 10-28-2004 |
On September 30, 2004, the ePME system software was deployed to the Department of Energy’s Application Hosting Environment on schedule and on budget. This first phase of the ePME system provides the capability to electronically receive and review research and development proposals from the national laboratories. Ultimately, up to 32 DOE sites will access ePME. Deployment to DOE sites focuses on:
A Helpdesk to assist SAMs and to capture enhancement requests and new requirements has been established.
Production TestProduction test participants include:
National laboratories that will utilize the Electronic Interface Developer’s Kit (eIDK), can test their XML translations. Beginning September 27, 2004, users can access the test system at http://epma.energy.gov and click on the “ePME Test System” link. The ePME Test System is the production software which will be deployed on September 30.
The eIDK enables national laboratories to use their existing systems to create R&D proposals and then submit them to the ePME system in batch mode. The eIDK uses standardized XML-based Web services and is accessible through the ePME system.
Production Test Coming Early 2005During July 2004, the ePME project underwent an external review by the MITRE organization at the direction of the Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy. The review determined that significant organizational value has been created through the ePME project, which has been ongoing through several related initiatives: (1) e-Government, (2) DOE 413.3, (3) I-MANAGE, and (4) Enterprise Architecture.
In response to the MITRE review, ePME will conduct a production test beginning early in 2005, with full system deployment and use scheduled to begin in June 2005. In other words, ePME will not be available for use--other than for the production test--until June 2005, when the system will be open to all of DOE to use on a voluntary basis. However, the production release of Electronic Receipt and Review will be deployed on DOE's Application Hosting Environment on September 30, as scheduled.
The production test will use the production software of the ePME system. The test will involve a select number of headquarters program secretarial offices and many, though possibly not all, of the national laboratories. By the end of September, we will have identified the PSOs, laboratories, and site offices which will participate in the production test.
Please contact Jim Fremont, ePME Communication and Outreach Manager if you
have any questions, 202-586-5735 or james.fremont@ee.doe.gov.
The beta test of the eIDK prototype is complete. Based on the results of the eIDK prototype evaluation, the ePME Team confirmed the technical capability and usability of eIDK for laboratories to create and submit entire proposals in batch mode to the ePME system. Click here to access the eIDK prototype evaluation report.
Training Schedule DelayedePME is on target with its schedule and budget to deploy the capability to electronically receive and review proposals from the national laboratories on September 30, 2004. The Department’s flagship e-Government application, I-MANAGE STARS, is scheduled to conduct training and become operation this fall. Due to a partial overlap in the STARS/ePME user community, the ePME project will postpone training with its user community until late October and early November of 2004. In the near future, the ePME project will provide more specific information on the rescheduled Webinars and classroom training, and ePME’s deployment and use.
The ePME team appreciates your understanding of why we are making these
changes. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience these changes
may cause you, and our thanks for your support and participation.
The revised training schedule for SAM classroom and Webinar training has been released. Based on comments and feedback from the preliminary schedule, the ePME Training Team tried to accommodate everyone’s needs, though we realize that this may not have been possible in all cases.
All SAM classroom training will be two days in length. Classroom training is limited to two SAMs from each organization due to space limitations (with the exception of SC and EE). Laboratory and associated site office representatives will benefit if they can participate on the same days. If your organization has more than two SAMs, we should be able to accommodate them at the Group 4 classroom training.
The eIDK Webinar is specifically for SAMs at national laboratories that plan to use the eIDK (Electronic Interface Developer’s Kit) for batch uploads of proposals.
Please contact Jim Fremont if you have any questions or concerns
about the training schedule or other ePME activities. Click
here to download the ePME SAM Training Schedule [pdf]
Electronic Receipt and Review is scheduled for deployment on September 30, 2004. The ePME system software will be deployed in the Department of Energy’s Application Hosting Environment, and will be accessed by up to 32 DOE organizations. The ePME team will prepare DOE organizations for deployment by focusing on:
ePME will establish a help desk to support SAMs and to capture enhancement
requests and new requirements. We expect more than 1,000 R&D proposal
process participants to use ePME. Full rollout of the ePME system will be
phased over four months.
The Electronic Interface Developer’s Kit (eIDK) was beta tested from July 13 to July 19, 2004. The eIDK enables national laboratories to use their existing systems to create R&D proposals and then submit them to the ePME system in batch mode. The eIDK uses standardized XML-based Web services and is accessible through the ePME system. Thanks to Argonne National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory for participating in the beta test. The two organizations tested the functionality of the eIDK through a series of test scenarios. On July 20, the ePME team captured and evaluated the laboratories’ feedback for possible incorporation into the final build of the eIDK. Feedback not incorporated in the final build will be documented through the Change Control Process for consideration in future ePME system updates.
Electronic Receipt and Review Training UnderwayOn June 29, ePME Site Administration Managers (SAMs) received the first round of training for Electronic Receipt and Review during the SAM Kickoff Webinar, which was attended by 64 individuals and included a live system demonstration.
Following SAM training, SAMs will help train end users on using the system and will provide tier 1 help desk support. To facilitate end user training, ePME will provide online tutorials on the project web site. Training will cover the following functionality related to new and ongoing laboratory R&D proposals:
Each major organization (national laboratory, field/site/operations office, headquarters program secretarial office) will have one or more SAMs, who will perform the following functions:
SAM training is a 3-step process. The first step was completed during the SAM kickoff Webinar. The second step will be administrative training on the ePME system setup process. The third step will be hands-on classroom training on the ePME system and the ongoing SAM administrative responsibilities. Thank you to the following individuals for serving as SAMs:
Kim Abbott - Berkeley Site Office |
Preston Maples - Oak Ridge Operations Sergio Martinez - Argonne Site Office Jerry Massee - Los Alamos Site Office Brenda May - Office of Science Mary Beth Mehi - Argonne National Laboratory Bill Millman - Office of Science Jay Nathwani - Golden Field Office Missy Nicholson - Office of Fossil Energy Kevin Novotny - National Renewable Energy Laboratory Sharon Parkinson - Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility Dennis Parton - Oak Ridge National Laboratory Gary Peabody - Chicago Office Lizana Pierce - Golden Field Office Sherri Powers-Moore - Jefferson Lab Site Office Gwen Pullen - Sandia National Laboratories Jackie Pursell - Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Roxanne Purucker - Ames Site Office Ken Rivera - Office of Science Natalie Roberts - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Tom Rueckert - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Katie Runkles - Office of Science John Sauter - Office of Science Mike Schofield - Idaho Operations Office Nicole Seawell - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Anastasia See - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Merrill Smith - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Charlie Sorrell - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Russ Sprangel - National Nuclear Security Administration Randy Steer - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Linda Stegena - Princeton Site Office Bob Strohecker - Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Diane Stults - Los Alamos National Laboratory Karen Summers - Office of Science Dan Ton - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Nick Torres - Brookhaven Site Office Janie Treadway - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Connee Trimby - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Lance Vickerman - Pacific Northwest Site Office Kim Williams - Pacific Northwest Site Office Dennis Wilson - Fermi Area Office Harvey Wong - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
On July 13, the ePME team will conduct training on the eIDK to selected national laboratories. Time and length of the training is to be determined. The one-day Webcast training will also include a walk-through of sample scenarios, which will test the eIDK and its XML schema for any flaws. The evaluation period for the eIDK beta testing is scheduled from July 13 to 27. An on-line survey will capture feedback from the scenario users, which the ePME team will evaluate for possible inclusion in eIDK design changes.
The eIDK allows for national labs to use their existing systems in creating proposals and then to submit their entire proposals in batch mode to the ePME system, using standardized XML-based Web services.
ePME Lab Demonstration Webcast May 26To ensure that the national laboratories are prepared for the full deployment of Electronic Receipt and Review (ePME’s first module) on September 30, ePME has asked members of SLCCC (The Systems of Labs Computing Coordinating Committee) to identify laboratory participants for a May 26 ePME Lab Demonstration Webcast, scheduled for 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. EDT.
The Webcast will demonstrate the Electronic Receipt and Review module and the Electronic Interface Developer's Kit (eIDK), which allows existing systems to interface with ePME.
By educating laboratory contacts about ePME and the eIDK, the Webcast will help them make an informed choice whether to use the eIDK for batch uploads of R&D proposals or create and submit R&D proposals via ePME's interactive forms environment.
The Webcast will also help the ePME team identify laboratories that will have the capability to participate in testing the Beta version of the eIDK in July. These labs will need to: a) commit the resources and staff time necessary to write the programs to export the R&D proposals, and b) have the capability to export R&D proposals in the designated XML format. Prior to full deployment of Electronic Receipt and Review in September, each national laboratory that intends to use eIDK to upload proposals must develop and validate a program that creates an eIDK compliant XML file from the laboratory's current proposal system.
The ePME team thanks Becky Verastegui of Oak Ridge National Laboratory for contacting SLCCC members on behalf of ePME, and we thank the lab contacts for their participation. We appreciate your interest and support!
The Webcast may be viewed by anyone interested in ePME and the eIDK. For information on how to log on, contact Jim Fremont (james.fremont@ee.doe.gov or 202-586-5735)
Thank You to Electronic Receipt and Review Pilot ParticipantsThank you to those that have participated in piloting the Electronic Receipt and Review prototype. Your participation helps the Department take a bold step into the future. Thank you for boldly embracing change and confidently taking that first step. You’ve made a positive difference!
The following have completed the training and testing:
HQ Training Participants,
March 9 - 10, 2004 ORNL Training Participants, March 15 - 16, 2004 Barb Esch - SNL Carol L. Ferguson - SNL Mary Anne Heise - SNL Ron Holton - AL Denise LaPorte - SNL Laura Liles - LANL Observer Mike Maurer - SNL Gwen Pullen - SNL Wanda Silva - AL Dr. Michael Ulrickson - SNL NREL Training Participants, March 23 -24, 2004 Jeffrey M. Baker - HQ EE Mary Colvin - NREL Kris Kuhl-Klinger - NREL Mary Mahon - NREL Lizana Pierce - GO Tim Rea - GO Steve Scott - GO Barbara Stokes - NREL Tom Surek - NREL George Sverdrup - NREL Carolyn Vanderhart - NREL Fermi Training Participants, March 31-April 1, 2004 Bruce Chrisman - Fermi Denise Keiner - Fermi Jane Monhart - Fermi Connee Trimby - Fermi Dennis Wilson - Fermi HQ Top Official Training |
|
From March 9 through April 2, 2004, more than 50 participants from DOE headquarters,
the national laboratories, and field/site/operations offices are receiving
training on and evaluated the prototype release of ePME's first module, Electronic
Receipt and Review (of laboratory proposals for new and ongoing R&D activities).
Many trainees will also help test the module during its prototype release,
and will provide feedback prior to its full deployment in September.
The training sessions provide role-based experience for creating and editing Field Work Proposals, finding information, and understanding and completing task assignments. After the training sessions, participants will report their comments and results to the ePME Project Management Office.
The pilot covers deployment, training, and evaluation:
| Pilot Schedule |
||
|---|---|---|
| March 9 | Deploy ePME Pilot Release Software | |
| March 9 - 11 | Headquarters Training | |
| March 15 - 16 | Oak Ridge Training | |
| March 18 - 19 | Sandia Training | |
| March 23 - 24 | NREL Training | |
| March 31 - April 2 | Fermi Training | |
| April 3- 14 | Compile, discuss, and evaluate pilot results | |
| April 16 | Present evaluation report to Executive Steering Committee | |
Training participants represent Sandia National Laboratories and the Sandia Site Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Operations Office, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Golden Site Office, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Fermi Area Office. DOE headquarters participants are from the Office of Science and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The prototype release provides functionality for creating and processing lab funding requests for new R&D proposals and ongoing R&D as well as the receipt and processing of those funding requests by site/field offices and headquarters. Even though the prototype release has limited capability compared to the full release, laboratory participants (principal investigators, technical reviewers, budget reviewers, and program managers, or staff assuming these roles) are able to enter the full range of administrative, budget, and technical data for proposals.
During the pilot, participants will have access to ePME system support via e-mail, Web, and phone. Participating organizations have designated Super Users who will provide support and training to other users in their respective organizations.
The pilot training is based on scenarios that simulate how ePME users will accomplish work via the ePME system. Real proposals are being used to exercise the system's functionality and give participants a close-to-real-life experience. Participants will be able to continue using the prototype system for a few weeks after the pilot concludes.
Site/field/operations office participants are following the FWP approval process based on a single automated workflow for budget review and approval. Headquarters participants are experiencing the automated workflow approval process, and can return comments to the laboratory PI.
The pilot is intended to confirm the system's ability to meet labs' and DOE's business needs, identify any flaws that would preclude user acceptance, and validate the choice of the PDMLink commercial software package as the basis for ePME's first release.
When the testing period concludes, training participants will send the results of their user scenarios and comments to the ePME Project Management Office, where the information will be compiled, discussed, and evaluated to determine any necessary changes to the system. ePME is scheduled to submit an evaluation report to the Executive Steering Committee on April 16.
The ePME team would like to thank all the training and testing participants. Your participation and interest are vital to the success of the project, and we really appreciate it!
Photos are from training conducted March 9-11 in Washington.
Electronic Receipt and Review Prototype ReleaseWe are ready to deploy the first release of ePME in March! ePME will release the Electronic Receipt and Review of laboratory proposals for new and ongoing R&D activities module as a limited prototype on March 15, and will release Electronic Receipt and Review as a fully-functional module by the end of September. Electronic Receipt and Review will allow laboratories to electronically submit proposals for new and ongoing research and development using their existing systems or through a Web-based ePME interface, and for DOE program offices to electronically receive, review and respond.
From March 9 to April 2, ePME will be conducting training at DOE Headquarters and at selected sites. Testing of the prototype release is scheduled to occur from March 15 to April 2.
The training will include exercises in various scenarios to test the system's functionality and applicability to DOE's business needs, and will enable users in the chain of workflow for Field Work Proposals and Annual Operating Plans to test the system together and to help shape this module prior to its full deployment.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Operations Office, Sandia National Laboratories and the Sandia Site Office, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Golden Site Office, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Fermi Area Office, were selected to participate in the training and testing, along with headquarters staff from the Office of Science and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Objectives of the testing are to:
The scope of the pilot includes:
ePME will deliver the Evaluation Report on April 16, following an evaluation and a post release quality assurance review. At the Executive Steering Committee meeting in March, we will seek the ESC's approval for the module's full deployment in September.
To develop the Electronic Receipt and Review module, the ePME team conducted an alternatives analysis to determine if a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) or government-off-the-shelf (GOTS) product existed that could serve as part, if not all, of the functionality needed for the module. The team recommended PDMLink, a PTC software product, as the best option based on the alternatives analysis, which determined:
In June, ePME plans to deploy an electronic interface development tool kit (eIDK) and XML schema, which will enable laboratories to submit proposals via a single ePME batch interface. The Systems of Lab's Computing Coordinating Committee (SLCCC) received the draft schema at its February meeting and will distribute the schema and solicit comments from the laboratories.
To help prepare the larger DOE community for full deployment and use of the Electronic Receipt and Review module in September, we will share products and plans with SLCCC and will post the eIDK and other products and updates on the project Web site.
For more information about the pilot deployment, please contact Jim Fremont, ePME Communications Manager, via e-mail or at 202-586-5735.
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