DCL-06-38, Replacement of OCSE Network Equipment

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-06-38

DATE: November 8, 2006

TO: STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Replacement of OCSE Network Equipment

Dear Colleague:

The OCSE Network supports the Child Support Enforcement Network (CSENet 2000) interstate application, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Kids 1st application and the electronic Income Withholding Order (e-IWO) application. This network was first deployed in September 1999 and has performed reliably since that time. As part of OCSE’s continuing commitment to ensure consistent and reliable data exchanges over the network, OCSE is planning to replace all the network equipment at the hub and state sites within the next two years. The replacement of the network equipment is part of OCSE’s operations and maintenance strategy for maintaining viable Federal systems.

A deployment plan and schedule is being developed at the Federal level. The deployment process will begin in January 2007 and will continue until the end of calendar year 2008. A router and modem to replace the current production equipment will be deployed to each site.

The CSENet End User Support team will be contacting each State’s point of contact for communications issues. For planning purposes, initial contact will occur one to two months prior to the scheduled deployment and installation dates.

The State communications coordinator will be responsible for:

validating the State information currently on file,
participating in a conference call to plan the process,
receiving and installing the new equipment,
supporting the testing the new equipment,
ensuring an analog line is available to support the installation and testing process if one is not currently available to support the OCSE Network equipment.

If you have any questions regarding the schedule or process being used to replace the network equipment, contact your CSENet End User Support representative or the Service Desk at 1-800-258-2736. A list of technical representatives can be found on the OCSE Web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/csenet/contacts/csenet_contacts.htm.

We appreciate your cooperation in supporting this effort to ensure reliable network communications for the interstate and income withholding applications.

Sincerely,

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: Regional Program Managers
ACF Regional Administrators