Introducing NFC's Brand New Look

The National Finance Center (NFC) announces its newly redesigned Internet site which will be available starting January 21, 2008. NFC’s Web site, www.nfc.usda.gov, with its new look and feel will continue to provide many of your favorite items and a few new ones. The redesign has given us the opportunity to revamp content, making our site an even more valuable resource for you. This bulletin provides a quick summary of the new Web site content and navigation.

Overall Web Site Format

The format for the Web site has been completely redesigned. All current menus choices have been reevaluated and newly categorized for better organization and ease of use. The new menu categories and their respective content are as follows:

Top Navigation Menu

• Home – System messages and announcements will continue to display on the home page. However, a major change to their display involves our use of standardized icons for specific subject items. You will begin to recognize the content of the information by these icon symbols and easily note their topic upon a glance to the page. Additionally, a new Spotlight feature is being launched which will highlight new services and significant achievements of the NFC. The home page also continues to provide access to the Application Launchpad which now includes the Download Center and Reporting Center that were previously located under the Support Center. Additionally, links to related Web sites are still available through the home page.

• Customer Support – The Customer Support page is a completely new feature of the NFC Web site. Critical information will now be available in a centralized location on the Web site. Valuable updates in the form of Customer Notifications and Tips of the Week are provided on this page and customers should consult this page throughout the day for vital updates. This page also provides various types of Project Timelines and Customer Resource information including when our Client Service Representatives will be in Washington, D.C. on a detail. Furthermore, you asked for it and you got it! This page also hosts a consolidated calendar with all of the NFC/customer events in one location for reference.

• Publications – This page provides all of the bulletins and procedure manuals published by NFC regarding system processing instructions. The publications page also provides links to the NFC and USDA Newsrooms and presentations. Additionally, located on this page are the NFC brochures and training materials. A feature of the new format includes the archives drop-down box for access to prior year bulletins.
  
• Forms – Forms have been broken out as a separate menu option on the redesigned site. The forms were previously combined with the publications content described above. The AD-numbered forms are still available with links to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Standard and Optional forms, Thrift Savings Plan forms, and Controller Operations Division forms.

• About NFC – Provided on this page is a summary of the NFC organization. NFC’s mission statement and organizational listing are outlined along with information on the products and services offered to customers by NFC. Additional information on our Continuity of Operations and various Assurance Statements are available for use by customers.

• Help – While you’re getting used to our new look, take advantage of the Site Map of the Web site found under the help page. Listed on this page are also media help for Adobe Acrobat and a technical assistance link.

• Contact Us – Various contact resources are outlined on this page such as general NFC contact numbers, detailed organization numbers, management contacts, and links to other government phone directories. Additionally, we have provided New Orleans “Lagniappe” (which means something extra thrown in) including instructions/directions on visiting NFC and other New Orleans related information. Two “Quick Talk” e-mail addresses are shown for convenience in contacting NFC for assistance.

Left Hand Navigation Menu

• Search NFC – This portion of the Web site provides two main features, Web Site Search and the Knowledge Base. The Web site search feature allows you to search the entire site for related information. In the future you can look for enhanced search capabilities as we explore some new options in this area of functionality. The Knowledge Base feature is a link to the search tool you are familiar with containing answers to most of your frequently asked questions on NFC systems.

• HR Services – HR Services provides a link to the EmpowHR site outlining all of our Human Resources Line of Business (HRLOB) services offerings.

• System Offerings – System Offerings provides a link to the EmpowHR Web site outlining all of our Human Resources Line of Business (HRLOB) system offerings.

• Training – This menu option has three training-related subcategories; Course Catalog, Materials, and Schedules. Under these selections you will find a complete description of each course, pricing for the course, and when/where they will be conducted.

• Employee Services – Employee Services is a page designed to provide various types of employee-related information. To catch up on what NFC is doing to protect your personal data, and much more, click the Announcements link under Employee Services and then access the Security Corner. You’ll also find the monthly listing of TSP Return Rates here. Employee Services also has resource information related to Direct Deposit, Pay Table Rates, TALX (the Work Number for employment verification), and Thrift Savings Plan Rates. Also available is a Pay Period Calendar noting each EFT and Paper Check pay date per pay period.

• Operations and Security Center Help Desk – This option links to the Operations and Security Center Help Desk Web site for customer assistance.

• EmpowHR Help Desk – This page provides information regarding the contact information, hours of operations and types of issues handled by the EmpowHR Help Desk.

• Payroll/Personnel Help Desk – This page provides information regarding the contact information, hours of operations and types of issues handled by the Payroll/Personnel Help Desk (Call Center).

Web Site Navigation

As a general navigational rule, the top and left hand navigation menus are repeated on every page of the Web site. However, the right hand navigation menu changes on each subject page of the site to provide specific content relative to that topic. Additionally, a site map is available under the help link on the top navigation menu.

Feedback

Please take a few minutes to browse the site and let us know what you think. We welcome any feedback that would make the site more useful for you. Please direct all comments and suggestions to nfc.pubs@usda.gov. We hope you will be pleased with the new site and will help us continue to make it a more useful resource for you. Happy Surfing!