TECHNICAL PANEL

Tuesday, March 14, 2000, 9:00 a.m.
Varner Hall-Board Room, 3835 Holdrege, Lincoln, NE

APPROVED MINUTES

Members Present: Mike Beach, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications; Brenda Decker, Department of Administrative Services; Steve Schafer, Chief Information Officer, State of Nebraska; and Walter Weir, Chief Information Officer, University of Nebraska.

Members Absent: Michael Winkle, NITC Executive Director

Others Present: Rick Golden, University of Nebraska; Rick Becker, Office of the CIO/NITC; Tom Rolfes, Office of the CIO/NITC; Lori Lopez Urdiales, Office of the CIO/NITC; Mike Jeffres, Division of Communications; and Mirta Hansen, Future Kids.

ROLL CALL AND MEETING NOTICE:

Mr. Weir called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Roll call was taken. Four members were present at time of roll call. It was stated that the meeting notice was posted to the NITC web site and the State's Public Notice Calendar on March 7th, 2000.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Mr. Decker moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Schafer seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Weir-Yes, Schafer-Yes, Decker-Yes, and Beach-Yes. Motion was carried.

TECHNICAL REVIEWS - EDUCATION INNOVATION FUND:

Tom Rolfes, Education Information Technology Manager for the Office of the CIO/NITC, explained the technical review process and rating forms used to evaluate the 61 Tier II education grants of the Education Innovation Fund. Summary sheets including comments and technology scores were returned tot he Excellence in Education Council on February 23rd. After an external program review, the Excellence in Education Council will make funding recommendations to the Governor in early April. There is approximately $5 million available for grants. The funding cap for grants was $300,000. All application materials will be maintained by the Excellence in Education Council of the Nebraska Department of Education. Mr. Rolfes entertained questions from the panel.

After discussion of the Technical Panel's role in the technical review of the education grants, it was decided the panel would formally adopt a procedure indicating the review and approval of technical staff vitas and utilization of their expertise in the review process. Mr. Rolfes will formulate a procedure for adoption and approval by the panel before the next round of grants.

Mr. Weir informed the members that Rick Golden has developed a Lotus Notes skilled based inventory of UNL technical staff which may be beneficial. Mr. Becker and Mr. Rolfes will follow-up with Mr. Golden.

UPDATES:

Ms. Decker informed the members that the TIP (Telecommunications Infrastructure Plan) will be posted to the Division of Communications web site by the end of next week. The consultant, Federal Engineering, is still revising sections of the Technical Infrastructure Plan. The Advisory Group, consisting of K-12 and higher education representatives, is looking at the options recommended by the consultants. The next meeting of the Advisory Group is during the week of March 29th.

The morning of March 23rd, at the Executive Building in Lincoln, the consultants will meet with NTA (Nebraska Telephone Association). Mr. Winkle and Ms. Decker will attend. That afternoon, the consultant will meet with the Public Service Commission.

Mr. Weir distributed information on "A Gathering of State Networks: Strategies for the Next Decade" conference, April 16-18, in St. Louis, Missouri that would be of interest to the panel members.

WIRELESS Project: Mike Jeffres, Division of Communications, Wireless Project Manager, distributed a written project status report including timelines. Federal Engineering is the consultant. Fact finding and user assessments are 50% complete. Summaries of interviews, as well as the full report when completed, will be posted to the DOC web site. No conclusions have been developed regarding issues thus far. It is the Advisory Board's role to deal with issues. A draft report of the analysis of findings and alternatives is due in June.

Ms. Decker would like coordination between the Division of Communications, Technical Panel and the NITC by having a project review and a resolution by the Technical Panel that would be forwarded to the NITC for approval. Mr. Schafer suggested a full briefing of the project to the NITC at their August meeting for action to be taken at their November meeting.

TECHNICAL PANEL ACTION PLAN ITEMS:

Mr. Becker reported that both action items submitted by the Technical Panel were adopted by the NITC and are part of the Statewide Technology Plan:

• Actions relating to the Telecommunications Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA).
• Prepare an enterprise architecture framework to guide the state's investments in IT.

DISCUSSION - HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE:

Mr. Weir distributed two documents demonstrating possible processes and methodologies to begin discussion. Also, distributed was an article on different models. The definition of "enterprise architecture" is determined by the panel in the statewide plan: "Prepare an enterprise architecture framework to guide the state's investments in IT. Adopt principles, best practices, and standards and guidelines for each of the component of the technical infrastructure (in the order in which the work will be completed):"

1. Network Architecture
2. Systems Management Architecture
3. Security Architecture
4. Electronic Commerce Architecture
5. Collaboration and Workflow Architecture (GroupWare)
6. Data and Information Architecture
7. Application Architecture
8. Hardware Platform Architecture

After discussion, it was decided to develop the enterprise architecture component by component through utilization of working groups. The focus will be on the first three: networking, systems management, and security. A Security Architecture Work Group was established at the last meeting. It was suggested that the Advisory Group for the TINA Study be utilized for the Network Architecture with Ms. Decker as the sponsor. Community Council representation is needed on the Advisory Group. Ms. Decker and Mr. Becker will develop a charter for the group for adoption and approval at the next meeting. The timeframe was discussed. Mr. Rolfes shared that it is of crisis proportion for the K12 sector. It was recommended that the Network Work Group meet more regularly with monthly updates to the Technical Panel.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Mr. Schafer distributed copies of a draft document for Project Status Report (PDF 141k) as part of the Planning and Project Management of the statewide plan for non-education state agencies. This would also be relevant for LB1349 projects. LB1349 is in general file as part of the budget package. Mr. Schafer encouraged members to provide feedback.

Mr. Schafer asked the members what reviews of the NIS the Technical Panel should conduct in light of LB 1349. Mr. Becker read the resolution submitted by the panel regarding the NIS project. On item seven, it stated that at the request of the agency, the Technical Panel agrees to review the project prior to contract award. The RFP is the logical document to review, because an implementation plan depends on selection of the vendor. LB 1349 also requires NITC review and approval of the implementation plan. As the project is implemented, the members recommended that as the State Chief Information Officer, Mr. Schafer meet monthly with the agency, vendor and project manager. The panel also recommended quarterly briefings by the project to the Technical Panel. Mr. Schafer summarized the discussion as recommending Technical Panel reviews of the RFP and implementation plan, with quarterly briefings.

Mr. Schafer informed members that he has been working with HHS regarding the CHARTS IVV (Independent Verification and Validation) reviews. Persons are needed to assist with selecting the IVV consultant. The Gartner group was recommended as a possibility. John Delay was also recommended.

The Department of Labor has asked IMS and DOC to review a software program for the Unemployment Insurance Project. Federal dollars are being used so there is no need for Technical Panel or NITC approval. Ms. Decker suggested that Bob Shanahan provide a briefing to the Technical Panel for best practices purposes and he agreed. Mr. Becker will contact him.

Mr. Beach informed the panel that he will be attending a conference and will not be available for next month's meeting.

NEXT MEETING DATE AND TIME:

The next meeting will be held on April 11th, 9:00 a.m., at Varner Hall-Board Room, 3835 Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska.

ADJOURNMENT:

Ms. Decker moved to adjourn. Mr. Schafer seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. by unanimous consent.

Minutes taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Steve Schafer and Rick Becker of the Office of the CIO/NITC.

Meeting Minutes