NAO 212-1

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT - GENERAL

Issued 06/12/91; Effective 05/30/91

SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

This Order prescribes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) general policies, procedures, and responsibilities for planning, acquiring, managing, and evaluating information technology (IT) resources and activities within NOAA.

SECTION 2. SCOPE.

.01 This Order applies to all NOAA organizational units and to NOAA contractors as provided by law and/or contract.

.02 This Order covers general-purpose Automated Data Processing (ADP) equipment, computer software, telecommunications, office automation equipment, and other IT resources. It pertains to the acquisition, development, and management of such resources where title, or the right to such title, vests with NOAA.

.03 Attachments 3-A, 3-B, and 3-C to Section 3 of the DOC IT Management Handbook define dollar thresholds for IT resource actions which require DOC or GSA approval. Actions under these thresholds also require approvals as set forth in this Order and in accordance with the authority the NOAA Senior Official for Information Resources Management has delegated to each organizational unit. (See NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 212-7, Requirements Initiatives.)

.04 This and other NOAA Administrative Orders (NAO) in the 212 series are to be interfiled with the Department of Commerce (DOC) IT Management Handbook. Guidance relating to the policies and procedures for specific activities (planning, procurement, etc.) or subjects will be found in the specific Orders which follow.

SECTION 3. REFERENCES.

The requirements for the planning, acquisition, development, and management of IT resources are contained in the following reference materials:

a. Public Law 96-511, The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, which is intended to reduce paperwork and to improve the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal government and private sector by improving Federal information policy making.

b. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, "Management of Federal Information Resources".

c. The DOC IT Management Handbook, which was authorized by Departmental Administrative Order (DAO) 212-2, and which prescribes the DOC policies and procedures for the management and use of IT resources applicable to the DOC organizational units, including NOAA.

d. Public Law 99-506, Electronic Equipment Accessibility Reauthorization Act, which requires that disabled employees have equal access to computing equipment and software.

e. Public Law 100-232, The Computer Security Act of 1987.

f. Public Law 89-306, (The Brooks Bill), of October 30, 1965, which provides for the economical and efficient purchase, lease, maintenance, operation, and use of ADP equipment by Federal departments and agencies.

g. 41 CFR 210, the Federal Information Resources Management Regulations (FIRMR) and FIRMR Bulletin 56, Electronic Office Equipment Accessibility for Employees with Disabilities.

h. OMB Circular A-71, "Responsibilities for the Administration and Management of Automatic Data Processing Activities," of March 6, 1965, which identifies the responsibilities of executive agencies for administering and managing ADP activities.

i. OMB Circular A-94, "Discount rates to be used in evaluating time-distributed costs and benefits", of March 27, 1972, which advocates the use of the present value discount methodology in making economic analysis comparisons.

j. 48 CFR Chapter 1, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which sets forth regulations that Federal agencies must follow in acquiring goods and services.

k. Title 17, United States Code, Copyright Law.

SECTION 4. RESPONSIBILITIES/PROCEDURES.

.01 The Director, Information Systems and Finance Office, Office of Administration:

a. serves as the NOAA Senior Official for Information Resources Management (IRM) and, in this capacity, is responsible for those activities assigned to organizational unit Senior Officials by the DOC IT Management Handbook; (These include the designation of the points of contact identified in General Exhibit C of the DOC IT Management Handbook, the development and issuance of NOAA policies and procedures relating to the planning for, acquisition, management, and evaluation of IT resources and activities in NOAA, and the oversight of NOAA compliance with IT policies and procedures.) and

b. issues an annual call for the preparation and submission of IT plans from NOAA organizational units, approves or disapproves the resulting Concept Studies, and submits the consolidated NOAA IT plan to the DOC.

.02 The Information Systems and Finance Office, Office of Administration:

a. implements policies and procedures relating to IRM as set forth by the DOC;

b. develops all NOAA policies and procedures necessary to supplement DOC issuances in the area of information technology;

c. unless a specific NAO states otherwise, serves as the designated point of contact defined in General Exhibit C of the DOC IT Management Handbook; (Related duties include, but are not limited to, the development of the NOAA IT Plan, oversight of the procurement of information technology resources, the ADP Security Officer functions, and similar specific activities.)

d. reviews and approves or disapproves Requirement Initiatives and other IT documentation required by these directives; (All or part of this authority may be delegated to Line or Staff Offices.)

e. serves as the lead within NOAA for actions which the DOC IT Management Handbook requires of organizational units;

f. issues specific calls and related guidance for IT actions required of Line and Staff Offices;

g. coordinates IT acquisition actions with the NOAA procurement offices as necessary to properly plan and effect timely and cost effective acquisitions;

h. provides advice and assistance to procurement offices with regard to IT actions;

i. conducts management reviews of IT activities within NOAA Line and Staff Offices to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of these activities;

j. reviews Line and Staff Office nominations for IT Coordinators to ensure that nomination guidelines have been followed; and

k. makes the formal designations of the IT Coordinators in Line and Staff Offices.

.03 Heads of NOAA Line and Staff Offices:

a. submit to the Information Systems and Finance Office their nomination for an IT Coordinator for their office and ensure that their designated IT Coordinator performs the duties assigned in Section 4.04 of this Order;

b. review IT Plans for IT resources under their cognizance, ensuring that the plans are consistent with budget submissions; and

c. ensure that IT initiatives under their cognizance are appropriately documented as required by this Order; that full consideration is given to economy, efficiency, and programmatic need, and that the necessary approvals are obtained for these initiatives.

.04 Line and Staff Office Information Technology Coordinators:

a. respond to specific calls from the Information Systems and Finance Office, Office of Administration, for information and action on IT matters, and

b. perform the duties assigned to IT Coordinators in any specific NOAA program issuances which follow.

.05 Directors, Administrative Services Centers (ASCs):

a. ensure that Contracting Officers and procurement offices comply with the provisions of NAO 212-11 when processing NOAA IT acquisitions; and

b. ensure that ASC IT requirements are properly coordinated in the development of the annual Office of Administration IT Plan.

SECTION 5. EFFECT ON OTHER ISSUANCES.

This Order supersedes NOAA Directives Manual Chapter 47-10. The NOAA ADP/Telecomm Handbook, NOAA Handbook Number 20, is now obsolete.

SIGNED,
Director, Office of Administration

Office of Primary Interest:
   Office of Administration
   Information Systems and Finance Office
   Information Resources Management Staff (OA1x1)