[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65165-65168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26918]


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

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    This statement amends Part S of the Statement of the Organization, 
Functions and Delegations of Authority that covers the Social Security 
Administration (SSA). Notice is hereby given that Subchapter S4E, which 
covers the Office of Telecommunications and Systems Operations, is 
being amended to reflect a realignment of functions and renaming of one 
subordinate organization. The new material and changes are as follows:

Section S4E.10 The Office of Telecommunications and Systems 
Operations--(Organization)

    Delete: K. The Division of Telecommunications Systems (S4EN)
    Establish: K. The Division of Monitoring and Online Systems (S4EN)

Section S4E.10 The Office of Telecommunications and Systems 
Operations--(Functions)

    Replace in its entirety:

D. Division of Systems User Services and Facilities (S4EE)

    1. Provides all data center computer hardware implementation 
support for OTSO and coordinates the installation of all major hardware 
and software. Provides technical evaluation support for the 
procurement, acceptance, testing, installation and implementation of 
equipment and software.
    2. Plans and coordinates computer facility environmental systems 
requirements. Provides computer facilities support for all Agency 
computer processing centers.
    3. Provides a centralized contact for the management of all online 
storage media resources in the National Computer Center (NCC) and the 
Program Service Centers (PSC). Manages enterprise-level data storage 
resources in both mainframe and open systems environments to maintain 
the integrity, reliability, and performance of state-of-the-art storage 
technology. Responsible for all business critical data backup and 
recovery planning and operation. Advises Agency management on all 
aspects of data and storage media management.
    4. Provides technical oversight for the Agency on high volume, 
enterprise-class printing technology and hardware. Responsible for 
reengineering SSA print workloads to take advantage of new print 
technology and automated mail insertion technology.
    5. Provides all electronic scanning and imaging computer hardware 
and software implementation support for SSA. Coordinates the 
installation of all major scanning and imaging hardware and software. 
Provides technical evaluation support for the procurement, acceptance, 
testing, installation and implementation of scanning and imaging 
equipment and software.
    6. Responsible for the design, development, acquisition, 
implementation and management of automated data center operations 
management hardware and software tools for OTSO.

G. The Division of Operational Capacity Performance Management (S4EJ)

    1. Evaluates computer performance and monitors resource utilization 
to ensure that OTSO's operational computer systems capacity is utilized 
effectively and efficiently. Ensures that OTSO's systems performance 
objectives are being met and that databases are efficiently 
implemented. Prepares recommendations to OTSO management and as 
directed, performs similar functions for other SSA components.
    2. Ensures that sufficient IT capacity is available to process 
present and future workloads, coordinating decisions on target systems 
for new/modified workloads and systems configuration changes.
    3. Serves as the Office of Systems resource and repository for 
Enterprise Capacity Planning data and reporting.
    4. Provides recommendations and services to other OTSO components 
in the interpretation of reports and data resulting from evaluation and 
utilization studies.
    5. Uses operational research tools to investigate operational 
efficiency problems and develop workload and utilization relationships.
    6. Responsible for analysis of configuration, topology, 
connectivity, automation and availability of SSA's national network in 
support of performance management, resource utilization and capacity 
planning. Responsible for long-term network management resource 
utilization reporting and problem management reporting.
    7. Performs modeling and analysis of new applications and designs 
to determine performance impacts. Projects future capacity requirements 
for Enterprise Systems components and continually monitors performance 
to validate projections.
    8. Collects data necessary to measure operations performance in 
providing timely output services as delineated in the Service Level 
Agreements (SLA). Prepares periodic reports on SLA compliance.
    9. Identifies the cause of Enterprise performance problems and 
reports the findings.
    10. Directs the design, development and implementation of software 
to gather and report statistical information on the functioning of SSA 
Enterprise Systems. Evaluates and implements COTS performance 
management software, and designs, develops and implements custom 
capacity performance data collection and reporting system. Distributes 
the information to other SSA components to report on performance and 
utilization.
    11. Responsible for 800 number voice utilization data collection 
and reporting.

H. The Division of Telecommunications Security and Standards (S4EK)

    1. Develops, publishes and implements standards and operating 
procedures within OTSO. Develops and controls enforcement mechanisms to 
ensure adherence to operational standards. Administers the Federal 
systems standards program within OTSO.
    2. Directs the planning, implementation and evaluation of the 
systems security program in OTSO and SSA privacy and security policies.
    3. Serves as OTSO liaison with other SSA components in matters of 
privacy and security. Provides for the security of all OTSO resources 
in the centralized OTSO computer boundaries established by the Deputy 
Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management.
    4. Provides planning, evaluation and oversight on disaster recovery 
capabilities in order to maintain continuity of data center operations. 
Develops, implements and evaluates systems and procedures for the 
security and protection of data. Directs the continuity of operations 
program for OTSO.

I. The Division of Resource Management and Acquisition (S4EL)

    1. Directs OTSO's participation in the Information Technology 
Systems (ITS) procurement process. Manages, plans,

[[Page 65166]]

and coordinates the activities relating to business and financial 
planning of SSA's telecommunications needs.
    2. Performs technical and cost reviews of all OTSO/ITS 
procurements. Performs technical review of procurement proposals for 
ITS resources, network hardware, software and related services.
    3. Provides support for ITS Technical Evaluation Committees.
    4. Supports contract administration for all OTSO/ITS contracts.
    5. Provides technical support to Project Officers in the 
development, modification and administration of ITS contracts.
    6. Directs the renewal process for existing lease and maintenance 
contracts for ITS and telecommunications equipment and services.
    7. Manages the fiscal administration of ITS contracts, collecting, 
analyzing and reporting performance data to support required fiscal and 
other contractual proceedings.
    8. Provides for the centralized certification and authorization for 
the lease and maintenance of SSA's ITS and telecommunications 
equipment.
    9. Provides necessary staff support to users within OTSO for the 
development of procurement documents and documentation.
    10. Develops short-term and long-range tactical and strategic 
planning and maintains the OTSO macro-procurement plan which relates to 
planned acquisitions of ITS and telecommunications equipment, software, 
system design and system support services and implementation of 
telecommunication expansion.
    11. Serves as Project Officer for ITS re-competition/ongoing 
maintenance contracts.
    12. Provides technical support to OTSO and other SSA components 
during major procurement activities. Ensures that procurement 
documentation complies with directives published by SSA and higher 
monitoring authorities. Provides recommendations for disposition of 
procurement proposals for ITS resources.
    13. Formulates an OTSO-wide Systems Plan and assigns responsibility 
to OTSO components for various parts of the Plan. Works with OTSO 
components to evaluate their proposed systems objectives in terms of 
technical feasibility, availability of resources and systems costs. 
Identifies the major OTSO activities and resources needed to support 
these objectives. Directs and coordinates the OTSO technical work-
power, equipment and other special costs for the SSA budget process and 
justifies these on the basis of the President's Management Agenda and 
the Commissioner's priorities.
    14. Directs the preparation of detailed project plans, including 
resource estimates for projects of which OTSO has the lead. Monitors 
progress and use of work-power and equipment resources by OTSO 
components against their approved plans. Develops standard methods for 
project management and assists OTSO components in their use.
    15. Manages a centralized inventory of all SSA ITS and 
telecommunications equipment, and manages the ITS excess equipment 
process.

J. The Division of Integration and Environmental Testing (S4EM)

    1. Directs and controls all activities with the release of new or 
enhanced versions of host, client/server, and web (internet/intranet) 
programmatic and telecommunications-related software. Enforces software 
acceptance and certifications standards. Directs the staging of program 
modules to be tested.
    2. Develops and maintains extensive test databases for use in the 
acceptance, integration and environmental testing processes. Develops 
and incorporates the use of software simulators and emulators in 
software acceptance testing.
    3. Directs the integration testing of new or enhanced 
communications host, client/server, and web (internet/intranet) 
software, and network communications software. Participates in the 
movement and/or migration of software systems and associated files 
between complexes and processing components. Directs the migration of 
web software.
    4. Directs environmental testing to ensure that all new or enhanced 
software is compatible with changing hardware configurations. Directs 
the integration of new or enhanced SSA programmatic software. 
Administers the generation of finalized testing results for evaluation. 
Directs software performance evaluations, parallel testing, timing 
studies, inter/intra-system relationship and testing trend analysis.
    5. Responsible for administering integration and acceptance testing 
for production IT hardware.
    6. Provides the checks and balances on SSA's production IT systems 
and equipment procurement for complying with contractual performance 
requirements throughout the life cycle of the procurement.
    7. For all host, client/server, and web (internet/intranet) 
application software, manages and controls libraries, controls and 
migrates software into the production environment. For host 
implementations, designs and develops backup and recovery procedures. 
For client/server, develops installation scripts for migration of 
software to production.
    8. Administers all activities pertaining to configuration 
management for the OTSO change management system.
    9. Responsible for SSANet software distribution and version 
management.
    10. Serves as the focal point for release coordination activities 
for the integration and production phases of the life cycle for host, 
client/server and web (internet/intranet) applications.
    11. Develops and maintains pristine workstation images for the 
configurations/builds in the production environment.

K. The Division of Monitoring and Online Systems (S4EN)

    1. Procures, installs, modifies and tunes all online/batch 
teleprocessing monitor systems software, vendor support products, data 
base management systems, web based and middle-ware solutions. Designs, 
modifies, implements and installs specialized teleprocessing system 
software to support new teleprocessing application software including 
in-house modifications.
    2. Directs the continuous monitoring of all teleprocessing, data 
base and middle-ware system software and performs problem determination 
and resolution.
    3. Participates in the establishment of teleprocessing software 
standards for application design and for the use of data base packages 
within the SSA network environment. Formulates policy for data base 
applications software systems and monitors and optimizes performance of 
that software.
    4. Develops teleprocessing software procedures for computer 
operations components.
    5. Manages all online teleprocessing and data base management 
systems.
    6. Installs and manages Unix operating systems on distributed data 
base and data base backup servers.

M. The Division of National Network Services and Operations (S4EQ)

    1. Manages the installation, relocation and operation of SSA's 
telecommunications network facilities for the transmission of program 
and management data over SSA established networks.
    2. Monitors telecommunications operations, analyzes equipment 
problems and effects proper maintenance and repair.

[[Page 65167]]

    3. Develops and directs the implementation of new procedures and 
updates existing procedures for network node operations.
    4. Reports outages to vendor management for prompt resolution and 
is responsible for the repair of advanced communications electronics 
equipment.
    5. Provides emergency support services for equipment 
reconfiguration as well as repair, assembly/disassembly and 
installation of advanced telecommunications electronics.
    6. Serves as the initial point of contact for user and technical 
problem determination for telecommunications. Diagnoses data-center 
hardware and network problems and coordinates network operations issues 
with applications and systems support staff.
    7. Monitors and controls functions for the nationwide 
telecommunications system. Develops operational procedures to modernize 
and streamline network operation and develops plans for automation.
    8. Manages traffic flow between telecommunications complexes and 
other SSA complexes.
    9. Communicates status of the network to other network nodes and 
advises users of abnormal or extraordinary situations affecting network 
operations.
    10. Monitors voice communications operations, analyzes equipment 
problems and effects proper maintenance and repair.
    11. Directs all teleprocessing system software problem 
determination and resolution.
    12. Coordinates with other OTSO components in addressing 
teleprocessing software concerns regarding system capacity issues and 
system configuration proposals.
    13. Operates and maintains an integrated systems and technical 
coordination control center and help desk to coordinate problem 
identification and resolution activities.
    14. Operates large scale computer resources providing level 3 
monitoring and problem determination for large scale operations, online 
teleprocessing regions and data base management systems.
    15. Provides operational status and workload information to field 
offices using the SSA telecommunications network. Provides statistical 
analyses of, and reports on, operations performance at meeting both 
user and computer center management service objectives.
    16. Serves as focal point for all user systems problems, questions, 
complaints and corrective actions regarding the full range of 
production services.

O. The Division of Client/Server Configuration (S4ES)

    1. Directs the design, development, implementation, maintenance and 
support of specialized data communications software (i.e., Email and 
Remote LAN Access) to support SSA's international network (SSANet).
    2. Manages and coordinates all change management system control 
relating to client server hardware and software changes to SSANet under 
the auspices of the change management facility.
    3. Performs Level 3 client server monitoring and problem 
determination for the SSANet.
    4. Interfaces with SSANet users to determine the impact of new 
applications and workloads and supports user liaison and systems 
development activities of other SSA components in the resolution of 
client server problems.
    5. Manages client server software changes to ensure compatibility 
with hardware modifications at Central Office and all remote network 
platform locations.
    6. Directs the planning, analysis and design of specialized client 
server software systems for providing information relevant to the 
development of existing and proposed client server systems.
    7. Responsible for client server projects, including acquisition, 
implementation, integration and control.
    8. Develops, disseminates and enforces standards and policies 
relating to workstations, workstation configurations, peripherals, LANs 
and LAN operating systems (OS).
    9. Works with SSA users to provide solutions to LAN 
telecommunications needs that are consistent with SSA-network 
architecture policies; determines client server interfacing hardware 
needs, implementing solutions, planning and expansion; and determines 
staff hardware training needs. Assists SSA client server users in 
determining and refining services and support requirements, 
configuration and engineering solutions, planning for future needs, 
coordinating implementation and evaluating effectiveness.
    10. Develops and distributes research papers on applied technology 
and its relationship to existing and future client server requirements. 
Also develops alternate systems configurations to meet specific 
alternative requirements (non-traditional technology approaches).
    11. Solves client server problems by applying information on state-
of-the-art OS, and client server hardware currently available in the 
marketplace. Develops turn-key client server systems and special menus 
to meet unusual customer requirements.
    12. Works with SSA client server users at the headquarters' campus 
and at OHA, OGC and OIG sites as well as the state DDS sites; to 
develop, test and support component specific applications, initiatives 
and configurations.
    13. Performs systems analysis, configuration design, and software 
selection, implementation and procurement support for microcomputers, 
minicomputers and computer graphics system and equipment for various 
components of OTSO. Provides state-of-the-art technical expertise 
including the evaluation of new and existing systems activities and 
provides support for enhancements, modifications, design and/or 
redesign. Researches and tests current off-the-shelf products for their 
network configuration to LAN and workstation needs. Researches and 
analyzes emerging office systems developments to ensure technology 
awareness and provide supporting systems development, design and 
planning implementation.
    14. Responsible for all aspects of engineering (hardware and 
software), design, configuration, implementation and maintenance of 
host architecture for multiple remote LAN access/mobile computing 
solutions for SSA. Includes all private host/client architectures, 
Virtual Private Network, and wireless access to SSANet via computers 
and PDAs.
    15. Conducts research and development of state-of-the-art 
technology for the purpose of remote connectivity as well as improved 
remote systems security. This includes potential hardware and software 
solutions as well as biometrics technology.
    16. Supports multiple telecommunications methods of remote 
connectivity including analog, ISDN, Cable/DSL and Satellite for both 
mobile and static locations.
    17. Conducts hardware evaluation for notebook-computer products 
that may be used for remote access agencywide, including addressing 
compatibility issues with existing product lines as well as Section 508 
considerations.
    18. Supports configuration management and installation of local 
area networks including building, configuring and imaging workstations 
and servers.


[[Page 65168]]


    Dated: October 15, 2002.
Reginald F. Wells,
Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources.
[FR Doc. 02-26918 Filed 10-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P