[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 223 (Thursday, November 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64260-64261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30941]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE


Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP)--Federal 
Financial Management System Requirements (FFMSR)

[Document Nos. JFMIP-SR-98-1 & JFMIP-SR-98-2]
AGENCY: Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP).

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: the JFMIP is seeking public comment on two exposure drafts 
titled ``Core Financial System Requirements'' and ``Human Resources & 
Payroll Systems Requirements,'' both dated November 5, 1998. The 
exposure drafts are being issued to update the 1995 ``Core Financial 
System Requirements'' and the 1990 ``Personnel-Payroll System 
Requirements.'' The exposure drafts incorporate new JFMIP requirements 
for Core Financial Systems and Human Resources & Payroll Systems. They 
are designed to provide financial managers with Governmentwide 
mandatory requirements for financial systems in order to process and 
record financial events effectively and efficiently, and to provide 
complete, timely, reliable, and consistent information for decision 
makers and the public.

DATES: Comments are due by January 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the financial system requirements exposure drafts 
have been mailed to Agency Senior Financial Officials and are available 
on the JFMIP website http://www.financenet.gov/financenet/fed/jfmip/
jfmipexp.htm. Comments should be addressed to JFMIP, 441 G Street NW., 
Room 3111, Washington, DC 20548.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty White, 202-512-9346, regarding 
the Core Financial System Requirements; and Dennis Mitchell, 202-512-
5994, regarding the Human Resources & Payroll Systems Requirements.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Financial Management

[[Page 64261]]

Improvement Act of 1996 (FFMIA) mandated that agencies implement and 
maintain systems that comply substantially with Federal financial 
management systems requirements, applicable Federal accounting 
standards, and the U.S. Government Standard General Ledger at the 
transaction level. The FFMIA statute codified the JFMIP financial 
systems requirements documents as a key benchmark that agency systems 
must meet in order to be substantially in compliance with systems 
requirements provisions under FFMIA. To support the requirements 
outlined in the FFMIA, we are updating requirements documents that are 
obsolete and publishing additional requirements documents.
    The Core Financial System Requirements document establishes 
standard requirements for the backbone modules of an agency's 
integrated financial management system. The major functions supported 
by a Core Financial System are: Core Financial System Management, 
General Ledger Management, Funds Management, Payment Management, 
Receipt Management, Cost Management, and Reporting. These seven 
functions provide common processing routines, support common data for 
critical financial management functions affecting the entire agency, 
and maintain the required financial data integrity control over 
financial transactions, resource balances, and other financial 
management systems.
    This update reflects the most recent changes in laws and 
regulations, such as the Debt Collection Improvement Act, and clarifies 
previous requirements. It also incorporates requirements that were 
previously reflected in the technical requirements of the Financial 
Management System Software schedule Statement of Work. JFMIP's new 
Knowledgebase website can be used to identify the changes that have 
been made to the Core Financial System Requirements document. The new 
and changed requirements in the exposure draft can be easily identified 
with this tool. The Knowledgebase can be accessed through FinanceNet 
under the JFMIP Program Management Office website http://
www.financenet.gov/fed/jfmip/pmo.htm. The Knowledgebase includes both 
mandatory requirements and value-added features. The exposure draft, 
however, contains only mandatory requirements on which the vendor 
software certification test will be based.
    The Human Resources & Payroll Systems Requirements document is 
intended for human resources and payroll financial systems analysts, 
system accountants, and others who design, develop, implement, operate, 
and maintain financial management systems. The primary purposes for 
this update are to reflect: changes in statutes, regulations, and 
technology that have occurred since the document was originally 
published in May 1990, e.g., passage of the Chief Financial Officers 
Act of 1990, and FFMIA of 1996; changes in personnel practices brought 
about by the National Performance Review; and increased availability of 
commercial off-the-shelf software packages. This update also 
incorporates core functionalities of a Federal human resources system 
as defined by the Human Resources Technology Council.
    Comments received will be reviewed and the exposure drafts will be 
revised as necessary. Publication of the final requirements will be 
mailed to agency senior financial officials and will be available on 
the JFMIP website.
Karen Cleary Alderman,
Executive Director, Joint Financial Management Improvement Program.
[FR Doc. 98-30941 Filed 11-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1610-02-M