HHS Policy for Information Technology (IT) - Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC)December 30, 2005HHS-OCIO-2005-0005.001Table of ContentsThis document supersedes “HHS IRM Policy for Capital Planning and Investment Control,” IRM – 2000-0001, dated January 8, 2001 and its companion document, “HHS IRM Guide for Capital Planning and Investment Control,” IRM-2000-001-GD, dated January 8, 2001. A complete revision to the policy, guidance, and responsibilities for performing Information Technology (IT) Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) throughout the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is provided herein. The policies prescribed in this document are consistent with the statutory and regulatory requirements, executive guidance, and best practices listed in Section 6, Applicable Policies and Guidance. HHS shall comply with the CPIC and IT management policies and guidelines listed herein. Investments in IT can dramatically enhance organizational performance. When carefully managed, IT becomes a critical enabler to improve business processes, makes information widely available, and reduces the cost of providing essential Government services. As IT rapidly evolves, the challenge of realizing its potential benefits also becomes much greater. Congress and OMB have clearly stated that each executive agency must actively manage its IT program to provide assurances that technology expenditures are necessary and shall result in demonstrated improvements in mission effectiveness and customer service. The Clinger-Cohen Act (CCA) of 1996, Public Law 104 – 106, legislatively mandates that IT investments be prudently managed. One key CCA goal is for agencies to develop policies and processes that implement systems at acceptable costs, within reasonable and expected time frames, and that contribute to tangible, observable improvements in mission performance. Therefore, CPIC processes shall be institutionalized throughout HHS, shall ensure compliance with the HHS Enterprise Architecture, and shall be used for all IT-related decisions. This policy applies to the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS), including all Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs), the Office of the Inspector General, and the Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) (hereinafter referred to collectively as “HHS OPDIVs”). This policy also applies to all HHS IT investments throughout their entire investment lifecycle, regardless of funding source, whether owned and operated by HHS, or operated on behalf of HHS. This Policy shall be applied in conjunction with the HHS Enterprise Architecture Policy, HHS Earned Value Management (EVM) Policy and Procedures, and the HHS CPIC Procedures. OPDIVs shall use this Policy or may create a more restrictive OPDIV-specific policy, but not one that is less restrictive or less comprehensive. The HHS OPDIVs are responsible for preparing implementing documentation within 120 days of the effective date of this policy and providing a copy to the HHS Chief Information Officer. The CPIC process is an integrated, structured methodology to managing IT investments, which ensures that IT investments align with HHS’ mission and support business needs while minimizing risks and maximizing returns throughout the investment’s lifecycle. CPIC uses a systematic selection, control, and continual evaluation process to ensure that an investment supports HHS’ mission and business needs. This section addresses HHS’: - General Policy
- CPIC Process
- Enterprise Architecture
- Privacy and Security
- IT Strategic Planning
- IT Investment Planning
- IT Investment Funding
- IT Acquisition
The HHS CIO has established the following HHS CPIC Policy: - 4.1.1 HHS IT investments directly support and align with the HHS mission and strategic goals and are citizen centered.
- 4.1.2 Business processes are reengineered before investing in IT to support those processes.
- 4.1.3 Priority consideration is given to those IT investments that share use of IT across multiple entities within HHS and across other agencies. Redundant IT investments within HHS and across other agencies shall be minimized.
- 4.1.4 In order for an IT investment to be selected for funding in any fiscal year, it shall demonstrate a strong business case documenting the financial, technical and strategic merits justifying the investment. Investments shall:
- Align with the HHS Enterprise Architecture.
- Fill a performance gap in HHS ability to meet strategic goals and objectives at the lowest life cycle cost among viable alternatives.
- Have an acceptable business case demonstrating strong project management capabilities as well as sound investment planning.
- Achieve a positive return on investment that is equal to or greater than that achievable through alternative use of resources.
- Provide risk-adjusted cost and schedule goals, and measurable and achievable performance goals.
- Provide a comprehensive risk mitigation and management plan.
- Ensure security of data and systems.
- 4.1.5 IT investments that meet one or more of the criteria as shown in Figure 1 shall be designated for Department-level review. All other IT investments shall be designated for HHS OPDIV-level review. HHS OPDIVs shall comply with the requirements of this policy for those IT investments they review and manage. The HHS CIO shall review and approve HHS OPDIV CPIC processes, as appropriate, to ensure compliance with this policy.
Figure 1: HHS CPIC Review Thresholds Criteria | Threshold for Department-Level CPIC Review |
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Interoperability | IT investments that impact more than one HHS OPDIV through the sharing of data or facilities, or that impact other systems through outputs and inputs. | Cross-cutting | IT investments for which a single Department-wide solution may be possible, or for which a Department-wide team has been established or planned, or that impacts more than one HHS OPDIV. | New Technology | Technology that sets a new technological direction impacting the “to be” target enterprise architecture for one or more HHS OPDIVs or Department-wide. | HHS CIO Interest | Any IT investment or investment portfolio that the HHS CIO requests to have reviewed at the Department-level. Examples are highly visible or sensitive investments. | Annual costs | Annual costs, including development, implementation, operations and maintenance, independent verification & validation (IV&V), consulting services, etc. of $10 million or more. | Life cycle costs | Full life cycle costs, including development, implementation, operations and maintenance, independent, verification and validation (IV&V), consulting services, etc. of $50 million or more. | 10% Cost, Schedule, or Performance variance | Any IT investment that exceeds its approved cost, schedule or performance baselines by more than plus or minus 10% for two consecutive quarters or more. |
- 4.1.6 All IT investments with development, modernization and enhancement (DME) activities shall demonstrate satisfactory progress toward achieving approved cost, schedule and performance goals. All IT investments with DME activities must apply earned value management (EVM) policies and procedures, establishing approved baselines and controlling these baselines such that cost and schedule deviations do not exceed plus or minus10%. Refer to the HHS EVMS Policy and Procedures for further details.
- 4.1.7 Each IT investment with steady state activities (includes mixed life-cycle investments) shall demonstrate, through operational analysis, how close it is to meeting original and current cost, schedule and performance goals, whether it continues to meet HHS and user requirements, and that the total investment costs for an IT investment covers the life cycle and includes all budgetary resources.
- 4.1.8 HHS shall coordinate its internal IT management, strategic planning, budgeting, acquisition and human resource functions to meet the requirements of OMB Circular A-130 and the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.
This section addresses HHS’ - CPIC Governance
- CPIC Process
- CPIC Phases
4.2.1 An IT Governance Structure is established to implement the CPIC process and provide review and approval for HHS IT investments. The HHS OPDIVs establish and maintain IT Governance Structures to exercise IT management authority delegated to them by the HHS CIO. Operational Level IT Governance structures shall be consistent with those established at the Department Level. Figures 2 shows an Operating Division governance and execution structure that supports the Department level organizations. Figure 3 represents a suggested model for working with a large scale and complex portfolio of HHS-wide IT investments.
Figure 2: HHS Governance Structure ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109185902im_/http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/Images/figure_2-hhs:_governance_structure.jpg)
*Note: The HHS CPIC Team will review investments meeting Department-level CPIC review thresholds. ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109185902im_/http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/Images/fig3sugg.jpg)
The Department-level IT governance structure consists of: - The HHS Information Technology Investment Review Board (ITIRB), a cross-functional executive review committee responsible for overseeing the management of the HHS IT portfolio, approving and prioritizing IT investments to best achieve HHS strategic goals and objectives, and leveraging opportunities for collaboration across HHS OPDIVs on IT investments that support common lines of business. The HHS ITIRB shall ensure that the HHS IT investment portfolio is of the highest quality and meets the business needs of the Department in the most effective and efficient manner.
- The HHS CIO Council, a cross-OPDIV review committee, comprised of the OPDIV CIOs and chaired by the HHS CIO, responsible for reviewing the technical and managerial soundness of IT investments and providing technical recommendations to the ITIRB.
- The HHS CPIC Advisory Board (CPIC-AB) serves, through the HHS Chief Enterprise Architect, as the primary advisory board to the HHS CIO and the HHS CIO Council on CPIC policy, procedures, data standards, and tool configuration. The CPIC-AB shall be chaired by the HHS Capital Planning and Investment Control Officer with membership comprised of the HHS Portfolio Management Tool Program Manager, a representative from each HHS OPDIV, HHS Critical Partners, and a technical representative from the IT Service Center.
- HHS CPIC Team, within the OCIO, provides subject matter expertise to HHS OPDIVs on IT CPIC and investment portfolio management to ensure consistency in meeting the intent of Federal and Departmental CPIC policy. The team manages the CPIC process to ensure consistency across the Department, and to provide clear understanding of process roles, responsibilities, and timing among all accountable parties. The HHS CPIC Team also manages, measures and improves the CPIC policy, procedures, and tools to promote continuous improvement of the CPIC process and its outcomes. The HHS CPIC Team coordinates the review and articulation of issues coming before the HHS IT Governance Boards; provides guidance to HHS OPDIVs on Board-established reporting and presentation requirements for Board reviews; and advises the HHS CIO.
- HHS CPIC Critical Partners are responsible for providing input to ensure that IT investments comply with HHS policy in the respective critical partner functional areas and to advise the HHS IT Governance Boards and individual IT investment managers regarding functional issues in their areas of expertise. (Refer to Section 5. Roles and Responsibilities for a list of the Critical Partner functional areas and representatives.)
- Business Steering Committee, whether at the HHS or OPDIV level, reviews and recommends IT investments in its particular business area to ensure integration and alignment with HHS business goals and objectives, and to ensure that the proposed portfolio of systems in that particular business area meets HHS business requirements. A Business Steering Committee looks across the organization and its key business functions to determine impacts on other systems, business operations, etc. A Business Steering Committee interfaces with business sponsors and investment managers and provides recommendations to respective ITIRBs regarding business issues. Members of a Business Steering Committee include key business managers from the organization.
The specific roles and responsibilities of the Planning and Development Committee (PDC) will be determined at the time the Business Steering Committee establishes a PDC. See Figure 3 (above). - Business Sponsor or Functional Manager is an HHS business official responsible for the strategic business processes under development or enhancement and for ensuring their integrity; and also serves as the primary user interface to the CIO and ITIRB.
- A qualified Investment Manager shall head an Integrated Project Team (IPT). The IPT is established by the manager of each IT investment with technical and critical partner expertise appropriate to the size, complexity and operational requirements of the investment. An IPT typically shall consist of representatives from the business office, including any applicable subject matter experts, technical IT staff, budget, acquisition, security, and EA. The Investment Manager shall develop the investment business case in conjunction with the Business Sponsor to clearly define and capture business need requirements, conduct investment planning to adequately define and execute the tasks required to meet approved cost, schedule and performance baselines and conform to HHS policies that apply to IT investments. Investment Managers shall be responsible for timely reporting of significant variances from approved baselines and providing corrective action plans or rebaselining proposals as appropriate.
For more details regarding the CPIC governance structure, IT Governance Board charters, and specific responsibilities of each organization refer to Section 5. Roles and Responsibilities. The HHS CIO has established CPIC Policy that: - 4.2.2 The CPIC process links mission needs, information, and IT in an effective and efficient manner. It includes all stages of capital programming, including planning, budgeting, procurement, management, and assessment. The CPIC process provides results-oriented IT budget justification for IT operational and improvement initiatives in the context of HHS missions and operations and integrates, in conjunction with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, the IT CPIC process with the overall HHS budget formulation process as reflected in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4 – IT Management and Budget Formulation Calendar
4.2.3 The CPIC process consists of three phases designated by OMB as illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 5: CPIC Phases ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109185902im_/http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/Images/fig5cpicphases.jpg)
The Select phase lays a solid foundation for success in the subsequent Control and Evaluate phases. This phase begins with an IT investment concept and moves through the development of the business case by the Business Sponsor/Investment Manager, the HHS CIO Council/HHS ITIRB approval process, and IT investment initiation. All information required for the HHS CPIC process shall be entered into the HHS IT Portfolio Management Tool. During the CPIC Select phase each investment’s risks and returns are identified and analyzed before committing funds. IT investments are selected that best support HHS core mission functions, are consistent with the HHS Strategic Plan, and comply with the enterprise architecture. This process is repeated each time funds are allocated to IT investments, for both new investments at the beginning of their life-cycle and approved ongoing investments, which shall be subject to review each year as part of the annual budget process. During the Select phase, the Business Sponsor and the Investment Manager prepare a Prospectus Summary form in the HHS IT Portfolio Management Tool, which provides the necessary information to build support and make funding decisions for an IT investment. The Business Sponsor and the Investment Manager identify alternative solutions and develop an order of magnitude estimate of costs and benefits that may be realized by the investment. Estimated milestones, with associated schedules and costs, are established. The HHS CIO Council shall initially screen the IT investment seeking approval using a uniform set of evaluation criteria and thresholds. The IT investment’s business alignment, benefits, costs, performance, risks, and interoperability with IT systems, are to be systematically evaluated and prioritized amongst other investments in the IT portfolio. If the IT investment meets minimum requirements, the HHS CIO Council shall refer the IT investment to the HHS ITIRB, advising the HHS ITIRB on the IT investment’s technical soundness and recommending a priority relative to the remainder of the portfolio. The HHS ITIRB shall make the final determination regarding which IT investments will be included in the IT portfolio and either funded or submitted as a budget request. IT investments not included in the HHS IT Portfolio remain in the HHS IT Portfolio Management Tool as unfunded unapproved IT investments available for future consideration by the HHS CIO Council and HHS ITIRB. During the Control phase, an IT investment moves from requirements definition to implementation. All IT investments in the investment portfolio shall be consistently controlled (monitored and managed) by the Investment Manager to maximize value, mitigate risks, ensure successful results, and to takecorrective action when necessary. During the Control phase, the Investment Manager follows established milestones and reviews schedules, as well as utilizes an oversight mechanism to systematically evaluate and ensure the continuing security, interoperability and availability of the investment’s system and data. The Investment Manager participates in two types of reviews: - Periodic control reviews assess the IT investment’s progress against approved baselines, typically on a quarterly basis. The review’s purpose is to ensure that on-going IT investment status, progress, and outlook are satisfactory and consistent with approved investment baselines; identify deficiencies in investment management and monitor corrective actions; provide recommendations to the HHS CIO Council and HHS ITIRB to support their decision to continue, reduce, terminate, or defer IT investments; review investment status, control, performance, risk and outlook for approved and funded IT investments; and establish and execute the necessary project controls to manage requirements, risk, cost, and schedule baselines, and performance outcomes.
- Milestone reviews typically take place near the end of each System Development Life Cycle phase or when changes to approved investment baselines are anticipated. Milestone reviews confirm the IT investment’s strategic alignment; the appropriateness of current cost, schedule, and performance baselines; and the readiness of the investment to proceed to the next phase based on meeting established baselines and exit criteria for the current phase. The review may re-evaluate the investment’s business case. The HHS ITIRB will determine whether to continue an IT investment with the current baselines (with corrective action plans, if necessary), approve re-baselining, or terminate the IT investment.
These reviews ensure that an adequate risk management strategy has been developed and followed, financial management systems conform to Circular A-127 and ensure continued compliance with the HHS Enterprise Architecture.
The CPIC Control phase uses performance measures and management processes to monitor actual versus expected results of each IT investment. An EVM system measures progress against milestones on an independently verifiable basis.
For IT investments that meet the Department threshold for review, Investment Managers shall submit the EVM Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) and any changes to the PMB to the HHS ITIRB for review and approval. For investments that do not meet the Departmental threshold for review, Investment Managers shall submit the EVM PMB and any changes to the PMB to the OPDIV ITIRB for review and approval. Submissions shall address the rationale and driving factors leading to the new investment EVM PMB or any changed PMB. Any new investment EVM PMB or PMB changes approved by the HHS ITIRB will be forwarded to OMB for final approval. Any new investment EVM PMB or PMB changes approved by the OPDIV ITIRB will be forwarded to the Department, as part of the CPIC process, for final approval. For more details regarding the CPIC governance structure, IT Governance Board charters, and specific responsibilities of each individual and organization refer to Section 5. Roles and Responsibilities.
The CPIC Evaluate phase begins once system implementation, or a significant portion of the system when conducting a phased implementation, has been completed and the system becomes operational or goes into production.
The CPIC Evaluate phase consists of two activities: - The Investment Manager shall conduct a Post Implementation Review (PIR) following each IT investment or useful segment’s implementation. The Investment Manager shall evaluate actual investment cost, schedule and performance against original and latest baselines and level of stakeholder and customer satisfaction. A PIR determines the system’s efficiency and effectiveness in meeting performance and financial objectives. It documents lessons learned from the PIR and updates CPIC and enterprise architecture processes as needed.
The Investment Manager shall conduct a PIR for any IT investment cancelled before going into operation. During this review, results from the PIR are fed back to the Select and Control phases as lessons learned and actual versus expected results are compared. This is done to (1) assess the IT investment’s impact on mission performance, (2) identify any changes or modifications to the IT investment that may be needed, and (3) revise the investment management process based on lessons learned. - The Investment Manager shall conduct an operational analysis annually for each steady state IT investment. The operational analysis shall formally assess how well an investment is meeting program objectives, customer needs, and is performing within baseline cost, schedule, and performance goals. The results may signal to management the need to continue, enhance, or terminate the investment.
The HHS CIO has established the policy that: Alignment with the HHS Enterprise Architecture (EA) is a critical step in the review and evaluation of investments through the HHS CPIC process. The HHS Chief Enterprise Architect, through the EA Critical Partner Role, will ensure that the HHS Enterprise Architecture Program supports, augments, and reinforces the HHS CPIC process to ensure achievement of the mission, strategic and operational business needs of HHS. Refer to the HHS Enterprise Architecture Policy for a description of the HHS Enterprise Architecture Program. Based on the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA), HHS has developed an architecture framework as a logical structure for organizing complex information about an enterprise. This information includes the enterprise’s business processes, participants, the hardware and software systems that support those processes and participants, and the rules and constraints under which the enterprise operates. The HHS Enterprise Architecture framework helps HHS organize and present aspects of its architecture in a way that is understandable by all participants in the enterprise and by those outside the enterprise with which they must interact.
The HHS Enterprise Architecture (EA) enables HHS to: - Analyze business processes to take advantage of standardization based on common functions to customers.
- Ensure that automated systems optimally support the business processes and minimize the data collection burden.
- Acquire new systems and coordinate technology investments with the Federal business systems and architecture.
- Facilitate IT Capital Planning and Investment Control and coordinate information technology investments.
The HHS EA supports the HHS CPIC process by defining a target direction for future IT investments, as well as facilitating IT investment decision-making. The HHS EA process provides checkpoints during the life cycle of the IT investment and manages the technical standards comprising the target technical architecture. The goal is to ensure that an IT investment provides demonstrable alignment with the HHS business processes and technological architecture.
As the HHS EA matures, the two functions, EA and CPIC, continue to interact. The HHS EA development function creates enterprise architecture and the processes guiding the CPIC functions. The CPIC function, in turn, yields information that guides changes to the HHS EA. The architecture alignment and assessment process provide the mechanism to integrate the functions. 4.4 Privacy and SecurityPrivacy and security of data are important elements of planning, acquisition, and management of Federal information technology systems. The E-Government Act of 2002 and the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) assign significant privacy and security responsibilities to Federal information technology system operators. The E-Government Act establishes requirements for conducting Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) before developing or procuring IT systems or IT investments. FISMA requires integration of IT security into the capital planning and enterprise architecture processes, annual IT security reviews of all programs and systems, and reporting the results of those reviews to OMB.
IT privacy and security is an explicit part of the CPIC process. All IT investments must demonstrate that costs for appropriate IT privacy and security controls are explicitly incorporated into the life cycle planning of all systems. Cost effective security of HHS information systems must be an integral component of business operations.
IT security is part of the business case criteria for the review and evaluation of investments through the CPIC process. Each business case shall include costs associated with all aspects of security program expenses that would normally occur. For example: ongoing cyclical Certification and Accreditation (C&A), risk identification & mitigation activities, and day-to-day investment level security operations activities.
Investment managers need to address IT security threats and vulnerabilities early in the life cycle when the cost of implementing security controls and practices are relatively low and convenient to budget and schedule. Moreover, adherence to security-based software development practices will prevent deficiencies, rather than implement them after the fact. The cost to remediate a security weakness increases exponentially as an investment moves through the life cycle. 4.5 IT Strategic PlanningThe HHS CIO has established the policy that:
- HHS IT investments shall align with the HHS and HHS IT Strategic Plans and their respective mission and goals. This alignment shall be articulated by all new and ongoing IT investments within their business case documentation. Refer to the HHS and HHS IT Strategic Plans for specifics. (Located on the HHS Intranet website: www.hhs.gov)
The HHS CIO has established the policy that: IT investments shall address a specific performance gap or business need and link to and support the President’s Management Agenda, the HHS Strategic Plan and the HHS IT Strategic Plan. IT investment planning shall be conducted as an integral element of managing the IT investment throughout its life cycle. IT investments are categorized as Major, Tactical, or Supporting based on the criteria shown in Figure 6. Each IT investment shall prepare a business case, and perform planning activities and develop documentation and management requirements, as appropriate for the investment’s category, size and complexity.
Figure 6: IT Investment Categories
IT Investment Type | Budget Year Cost | Life-cycle Cost (See Note 4) | Other Factors |
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Major See Note 1 | >$10M Is for Financial Management and obligates > $500K annually | >$50M | Designated by the HHS CIO as critical. | Tactical See Note 2 | >$3M and <$10M | N/A | Designated by the HHS CIO as significant. | Supporting See Note 3 | <$3M | N/A | Designated by the HHS CIO as supporting IT investments. | Notes: - Major IT investments are defined as those HHS IT investments that:
- Have total planned outlays (i.e., DME and Steady State) of $10 million or more in the budget year.
- Are for financial management and obligate more than $500,000 annually.
- Are otherwise designated by the HHS CIO as critical to the HHS mission or to the administration of HHS programs, finances, property or other resources.
- Have life-cycle costs exceeding $50 million.
- Tactical IT investments are defined as those IT investments that have not been designated as major IT investments and:
- Have planned total outlays (i.e., DME and Steady State) of $3 million or more in the budget year.
- Are otherwise designated by the HHS CIO as significant to the HHS mission or to the administration of HHS programs, finances, property or other resources.
- Supporting IT investments are those IT investments not otherwise designated as major or tactical that:
- Have planned total outlays (i.e., DME and Steady State) of less than $3 million in the budget year.
- Have been designated by the HHS CIO as supporting IT investments.
- Life cycle cost is defined as all costs relating to an investment from initial planning to projected operational costs in the out-years throughout the expected lifetime of the investment.
The HHS CIO has established the policy that: - 4.7.1 HHS OPDIVs request appropriations for the full costs of IT investment acquisitions to ensure that all costs and benefits are fully considered when decisions are made. Each useful segment of approved IT investments shall be fully funded with either regular annual appropriations or advance appropriations. Full budgetary resources shall be requested for all ongoing and new proposals, or at least for each useful segment.
- 4.7.2 Acquisitions using Share-in-Savings authority of Section 210 of the E-Government Act of 2002 shall be funded from funds that would have been appropriated for legacy system operations and maintenance.
The HHS CIO has established the policy that: - 4.8.1 The primary purpose of IT investment acquisition-related activities is to support the execution of the investment decisions that are made by the ITIRB.
- 4.8.2 IT investment acquisitions use competition to the greatest practical extent to provide the best value to the Government and to properly allocate risk between the Government and the contractor. The availability and impact of alternative investment strategies and funding shall be thoroughly examined, to include the assurance that no existing private sector or government source is already capable of adequately meeting the need.
- 4.8.3 IT investment acquisitions will consider the value proposition provided through compliance with the enterprise architecture to maximize the value of previous acquisitions, minimize redundant acquisitions, eliminate unnecessary transition costs to non-compliant technologies, and leverage investments in training and staffing that have previously been made.
- 4.8.4 The IT investment shall structure the acquisition into useful segments and shall support simplified or otherwise redesigned work processes to minimize cost, improve effectiveness, and use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software unless custom software is cost-effective as documented through pilot projects or prototypes.
- 4.8.5 Acquisition plans shall be developed that reflect cost and schedule milestones and change as the baselines are adjusted, with inputs from all HHS plans, and that contain outputs that feed into the budget and CPIC processes. The plans shall also link resources to results through performance and earned value management, and build from the current enterprise architecture and transition to the target architecture.
- 4.8.6 The use of prototypes or pilots shall be considered for large expensive IT investments where there is major uncertainty about proposed processes, procedures, or supporting information. Where prototypes are acquired as part of the planning process, prototypes must be reported as full acquisitions.
- 4.8.7 Accessibility in accordance with the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Section 508 shall be addressed.
- 4.8.8 IT investments under consideration shall maximize the usefulness, minimize the reporting burden and adequately protect the confidentiality of information.
- 4.8.9 The prerogatives of state, local and tribal governments shall not be unnecessarily restricted.
The HHS Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for: - Establishing an effective Department CPIC program.
- Developing HHS policy and procedures for timely IT acquisition.
- Ensuring that HHS:
- Cooperates with other agencies in the use of IT.
- Promotes coordinated government infrastructure supported by a diversity of private suppliers.
- Promotes effective and efficient IT capital planning in accordance with OMB Circular A-11.
- Provides IT budget data to OMB in accordance with OMB Circular A-11.
- Permits maximum use of HHS IT contracts by other agencies.
- Being an active participant in all HHS strategic management activities, including HHS strategic and operational planning.
- Advising the Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology and Finance (ASBTF) on:
- The information technology implications of strategic planning decisions.
- Continuing, modernizing, or terminating IT investments.
- Budget implications of IT decisions.
- Being an active participant throughout the HHS budget process in establishing HHS IT investment priorities.
- Chairing the Department ITIRB and CIO Council.
- Ensuring that the overall IT investment portfolio adheres to the mandates laid out in statutes and directives, including the Clinger-Cohen Act, OMB Circular A-11, and FISMA.
- Providing oversight for all individual IT investments requiring Department-level CPIC review.
- Working in conjunction with the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Management and Policy, establishing criteria for the professional certification of IT Project Managers
- Reviewing and approving HHS OPDIV CPIC processes to ensure compliance with Department CPIC policy and to identify investments requiring Departmental CPIC oversight.
Each HHS OPDIV Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for: - Establishing and maintaining an effective OPDIV CPIC program.
- Identifying HHS OPDIV IT investments that meet Departmental ITIRB review criteria.
- Prioritizing the HHS OPDIV IT investment portfolio to maximize the return on the IT resource investment against HHS OPDIV mission and goals, and advising the HHS CIO regarding relative priorities among HHS OPDIV IT investments.
- Providing oversight for all individual IT investments requiring HHS OPDIV-level CPIC review.
- Reviewing and approving sub-HHS OPDIV CPIC processes to ensure compliance with Department and HHS OPDIV CPIC policy.
- Serving as a member of the Department CIO Council and ITIRB.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Finance is responsible for: - Serving as a member of the Department ITIRB.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department ITIRB to ensure financial management implications are properly addressed.
- Ensuring IT investments that have financial management components or interact with financial systems are in compliance with financial standards and regulations.
- Assigning resources for CPIC critical partner support for Finance.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding financial management policies and issues.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Budget is responsible for: - Serving as a member of the Department ITIRB.
- Providing budget guidance to the HHS CIO suitable to guide CPIC activities in support of budget formulation.
- Notifying the HHS CIO of all Department budget decisions affecting IT investments.
- Providing OMB passback guidance, appeals and results to the HHS CIO.
- Assigning resources for CPIC critical partner support for Budget.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding budget policy and issues.
- Considering prioritized IT investment portfolio information in making budget formulation decisions.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department ITIRB to address budget-related issues.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Human Resources (HR) is responsible for: - Serving as a member of the Department ITIRB.
- Assigning resources for CPIC critical partner support for Human Resources.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department ITIRB to address the human resource and union issues that may affect an investment’s progress and implementation.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding human-resource policy and issues.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Acquisition Management & Policy (AMP) is responsible for: - Serving as a member of the Department ITIRB.
- Assigning resources for CPIC critical partner support for Acquisition Management.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department ITIRB for conformance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Department acquisition policies and procedures, and successful business practices.
- Working closely with HHS OPDIV contracting and program offices to develop and implement effective acquisition strategies and policies for IT investments.
The Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is responsible for: - Developing and implementing a comprehensive HHS strategy for health care information technology standards.
- Reviewing alignment of HHS IT investments to IT health care standards.
The HHS Chief Enterprise Architect (CEA) is responsible for: - Assigning resources for CPIC critical partner support for Enterprise Architecture.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding EA policy and issues.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department IT governance boards for FEA alignment and conformance with Department architectural policy and standards (e.g., hardware, software, telecommunications and data).
The HHS Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for: - Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department IT governance boards to ensure they are compliant with Department security and privacy policy and standards.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding security and privacy policy and issues.
- Assigning resources for CPIC critical partner support for Information Security and Privacy.
The HHS Capital Planning and Investment Control Officer is responsible for: - Maintaining an effective Department CPIC program.
- Chairing the HHS CPIC Advisory Board.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department IT governance boards to ensure compliance with CPIC policies and procedures.
- Coordinating the review by CPIC Critical Partners and Department CIO Council and ITIRB members of matters coming before the CIO Council and ITIRB.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding CPIC policy and issues.
The HHS Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for: - Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the Department governance boards to ensure that optimal technical solutions are pursued.
- Providing guidance to IT investment managers regarding technical solutions and alternatives.
The HHS/OPDIV Business Sponsor or Functional Manager is responsible for: - Ensuring the integrity of the strategic business processes under development or enhancement.
- Serving as the primary user interface to the CIO and ITIRB.
The OPDIV CPIC Managers are responsible for: - Ensuring effective implementation of CPIC policy and procedures within the OPDIV
- Serving as a member of the HHS CPIC Advisory Board.
- Reviewing IT investment business cases and CPIC reports coming before the OPDIV IT governance boards to ensure compliance with CPIC policies and procedures.
- Coordinating the review by OPDIV CPIC Critical Partners and OPDIV TRB and ITIRB members of matters coming before the HHS CIO Council and ITIRB.
- Providing guidance to OPDIV IT investment managers regarding CPIC policy and issues.
- Obtain, document, and demonstrate the levels of experience and training appropriate for the type and size of investment being led.
The HHS/OPDIV IT Investment Managers shall: - Comply with the requirements of this policy for IT investment planning and management.
- Provide investment data and reports as required by the HHS CPIC process.
- Plan, organize, control, and lead an IT investment to successful completion by accomplishing approved cost, time, and performance baselines.
- Develop and implement information systems security plans.
- Coordinate and integrate IT investment activities.
- Monitor IT investment activities to mitigate risk
- Implement and maintain quality assurance processes appropriate to the size and complexity of the investment.
- Participate in control (periodic and milestone) and evaluate phase IT investment reviews.
- Report on a timely basis any significant anticipated baseline variation along with a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) or rebaselining proposal, as appropriate.
- Execute investments and make investment tradeoff decisions among critical constraints such as scope, cost, schedule and policy needs.
- Ensure investment data is accurate and timely to enable effective portfolio decisions and tradeoffs to be made at the HHS OPDIV and Department levels.
- Follow CPIC processes and timelines by executing the procedures in a timely manner to ensure that all CPIC process milestones are met.
- Ensure that the appropriate EVM rigor, based on the EVM Tier categorization of the investment, is integrated into the management of the investment.
The IT governance organization described in this section refers to the HHS Departmental organization. Each HHS OPDIV shall establish and maintain IT governance structures consistent with those established at the Department level to exercise IT management authority delegated to them in accordance with HHS CIO policy. 5.15.1 The HHS Information Technology Investment Review Board (ITIRB) shall: - Be chaired by the HHS CIO with membership comprised of the HHS Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Budget, Finance, Acquisition Management and Policy, and Human Resources and the HHS OPDIV CIOs.
- Give business approval (including funding level and source) for IT investments for which the HHS ITIRB has CPIC review authority.
- Approve cost, schedule and performance baselines for all HHS IT investments approved by the HHS ITIRB.
- Ensure that the Department’s IT investments individually and collectively maximize mission and financial returns.
- Establish a prioritized HHS IT investment portfolio during each annual budget cycle to support HHS budget formulation.
- Ensure that each IT investment requiring Department-level review complies with CPIC and other management policies (e.g., IT, financial, acquisition, enterprise architecture, and security).
- Recommend changes to Department policies relevant to IT investment management.
- Approve exceptions to established CPIC policy and procedure.
5.15.2 Business Steering Committee membership consists of key business managers from HHS. Steering Committee shall: - Review and recommend IT investments that ensure integration and alignment with HHS business goals and objectives
- Ensure that the proposed portfolio of systems in their particular business domain area meets HHS business requirements.
- Look across the organization and its key business functions to determine impacts on other systems, business operations, etc.
- Interface with business sponsors and investment managers
- Provide recommendations to the ITIRB regarding business issues.
5.15.3 The HHS CIO Council shall advise the ITIRB regarding the technical soundness of HHS IT investments requiring Departmental review. The HHS CIO Council shall: - Be chaired by the HHS CIO with membership comprised of all HHS OPDIV CIOs.
- Review the technical approach of individual IT investments coming before the ITIRB and make recommendations to the ITIRB regarding technical aspects of affordability, soundness of design, risk, and compliance with architectural and security standards.
- Review the IT investment planning and/or status of each individual IT investment coming before the ITIRB to ensure that the investment’s business case, IT investment plan, alternatives analysis and other IT investment documentation are complete, accurate and in compliance with Department policies and standards. Recommend approval or non-approval to the ITIRB with comments.
- Recommend a prioritized portfolio to the ITIRB during the budget formulation cycle and upon request of the ITIRB.
5.15.4 The HHS CPIC Advisory Board (CPIC-AB) shall serve, through the HHS Chief Enterprise Architect, as the primary advisory board to the HHS Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the HHS CIO Council on CPIC policy, procedures, data standards and tool configuration. The CPIC-AB shall be chaired by the HHS IT Capital Planning and Investment Control Officer with membership comprised of the PMT Program Manager, a representative from each HHS OPDIV and a technical representative from the IT Service Center. The CPIC-AB shall perform the following functions: - Provide recommendations to ensure the continued viability, integration and maximum return on investment of all aspects of the HHS Enterprise-wide CPIC program and its supporting HHS Portfolio Management Tool.
- Assess the viability and impact of all proposals, change requests and enhancements across HHS OPDIVs related to CPIC policy, procedures, and data standards.
- Review and evaluate all proposals, change requests and enhancements related to the acquisition, implementation, operation, and data standards of the HHS Portfolio Management Tool.
- Establish and monitor Memoranda of Understanding with any HHS OPDIVs that acquire or operate separate instances of portfolio or IT investment management applications, or otherwise interface with the HHS Portfolio Management Tool.
5.15.5 The HHS CPIC Critical Partners shall participate within the CPIC process to ensure that IT investments comply with HHS policy in the respective critical partner functional areas and to advise the HHS IT Governance Boards and individual IT investment managers regarding issues relating to their specific functional areas. Critical Partners are Subject Matter Experts from the following functional areas: - Enterprise Architecture ensures FEA alignment and conformance with Department architectural policy and standards (e.g., hardware, software, telecommunications and data).
- Security and Privacy ensures full compliance with all HHS security and privacy policies and standards.
- Acquisition Management ensures that IT investments conform to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Department acquisition policies and procedures, successful business practices, and the development and implementation of effective acquisition strategies and policies for IT investments
- Finance ensures financial management implications are properly addressed and IT investments that have financial management components or interact with financial systems are in compliance with financial standards and regulations.
- Budget guides CPIC activities in support of budget formulation. It also considers prioritized IT investment portfolio information in making budget formulation decisions, as well as addresses budget-related issues and decisions affecting IT investments, including OMB passback guidance, appeals and results.
- Human Resources addresses the human resource and union issues that may affect an investment’s progress and implementation, and provides guidance to IT investment managers regarding human-resource policy and issues.
These functional areas are represented, respectively, by the: - HHS Chief Enterprise Architect
- HHS Chief Security Officer
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Management & Policy
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources
The Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990 establishes a leadership structure, provides for long-range planning, requires audited financial statements, and strengthens accountability reporting.
The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA - 1993) establishes the foundation for budget decision-making to achieve strategic goals in order to meet agency mission objectives.
The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, Title V (FASA V) (1994) requires agencies to establish cost, schedule, and measurable performance goals for all major acquisition programs, and achieve on average 90 percent of those goals. OMB policy for performance-based management is also provided in this section. If an IT investment falls out of tolerance (failure to meet 90 percent of cost, schedule, or performance goals), FASA gives the Agency head the authority to review, and if necessary, terminate the IT investment.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) requires that agencies perform their information resource management activities in an efficient, effective, and economical manner.
The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act (FFMIA) of 1996 provides consistency of accounting by agencies from one fiscal year to the next and establishes uniform accounting standards throughout the Federal Government.
The Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (CCA) requires agencies to use a disciplined capital planning and investment control (CPIC) process to acquire, use, maintain, and dispose of information technology. OMB policy for management of federal information resources is contained in Circular A–130, Management of Federal Information Resources, and section 53 of A-11. The purpose of the CCA is to improve the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of federal programs though improved acquisition, use, and disposal of IT resources.
The Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998 develops procedures for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures by executive agencies.
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Section 508 requires agencies to give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.
The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA - 2002) requires agencies to integrate IT security into their capital planning and enterprise architecture processes at the agency, conduct annual IT security reviews of all programs and systems, and report the results of those reviews to OMB.
The E-Government Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-347) requires agencies to develop performance measures for implementing E-Government. The Act also requires agencies to support Government-wide E-Government initiatives and to leverage cross-agency opportunities to further E-Government. In addition, the Act requires agencies to conduct and submit to OMB, Privacy Impact Assessments for all new IT investments administering information in identifiable form collected from or about members of the public.
The President's Management Agenda addresses Strategic Management of Human Capital, Competitive Sourcing, Improved Financial Performance, Expanded Electronic Government, Budget, and Performance Integration.
Executive Order 13011 (1996) highlights the need for executive agencies to significantly improve the management of their information systems.
NIST SP 800-12, An Introduction to Computer Security: The NIST Handbook.
NIST SP 800-16, Information Technology Security Training Requirements: A Role-and Performance-Based Model.
NIST SP 800-26 Revision 1, Security Self-Assessment Guide for Information Technology Systems.
NIST SP 800-53, Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems.
NIST SP 800-64, Security Considerations in the Information System Security Development Life Cycle, guides the selection and acquisition of cost-effective security controls during the appropriate phases of the SDLC.
OMB Circular A-11, Preparing and Submitting Budget Estimates, instructs agencies on the preparation of budget submissions.
OMB Circular A-11, Part 7 - Capital Planning Budget Reporting, Exhibits 52, 5 and 300B, provides guidance on the principles and techniques for effective capital programming. The Capital Programming Guide integrates the various Administration and statutory asset management initiatives (including GPRA, Clinger/Cohen Act, FASA, and others) into a single, integrated capital programming process to ensure that capital assets contribute to the achievement of agency strategic goals and objectives.
OMB Circular A-76, Performance of Commercial Activities, requires that activities performed by the Federal government that are identified as commercial in nature will be subject to competition.
OMB Circular A-94, Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs, provides general guidance for conducting benefit-cost and cost effectiveness analyses and specific guidance on the discount rates to be used in evaluating Federal programs whose benefits and costs are distributed over time.
OMB Circular A-109, Major Systems Acquisitions, establishes policies for acquiring major systems. Major systems are defined as those programs that are critical to fulfilling an Agency mission, entail the allocation of relatively large resources, and warrant special management attention.
OMB Circular A-123, Management Accountability and Control, provides guidance to Federal managers on improving the accountability and effectiveness of Federal programs and operations by establishing, assessing, correcting, and reporting on management controls.
OMB Circular A-127, Financial Management Systems, prescribes policies and standards for executive departments and agencies to follow in developing, operating, evaluating, and reporting on financial management systems.
Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources, establishes policies for the management of federal information resources to include procedural and analytical guidelines for implementing specific aspects of the circular.
OMB Circular A–130, Section 8b, establishes additional requirements for enterprise architectures, planning and control of information systems and technology investments and performance management. Agencies must develop, implement, and use a capital programming process to develop their capital asset portfolio.
OMB Memorandum M-97-02, Funding Information Systems Investments, dated October 25, 1996, establishes the decision criteria with respect to the evaluation of major information system investments.
OMB Memorandum M-00-07, Incorporating and Funding Security in Information Systems Investments, dated February 28, 2000, reminds agencies of OMB’s principles for incorporating and funding security as part of agency information technology systems and architectures and of the decision criteria that will be used to evaluate security for information systems investments.
OMB Memorandum, M-03-22, OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002, dated September 30, 2003, provides guidance on implementing the privacy provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002.
OMB Memorandum M-04-19, Information Technology (IT) Project Management (PM) Qualification Guidance, dated July 21, 2004, identifies IT investment systems requiring qualified Project Managers and requirements for certification of Project Managers.
OMB Memorandum, M-04-24, Expanded Electronic Government (E-Gov) President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Scorecard Cost, Schedule and Performance Standard for Success, dated August 23, 2004, provides additional information on the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Expanded Electronic Government (E-Gov) initiative and the standard for success concerning cost.
OMB Memorandum M-04-25, FY 2004 Reporting Instructions for the Federal Information Security Management Act, dated August 23, 2004, describes the integration of security and capital planning through the plan of action and milestone (POA&M) weakness mitigation process.
OMB Memorandum, M-05-23, Improving Information Technology (IT) Project Planning and Execution, dated August 4, 2005, identifies steps agencies must take for all new major IT investments, on-going major IT developmental investments, and high-risk IT investments to better ensure improved execution and performance as well as to promote more effective oversight. Direct questions, comments, suggestions, or requests for further information to the Office of the Chief Information Officer, (202) 690-6162. The effective date of this policy is the date the policy is approved. The HHS OPDIVs are responsible for preparing implementing documentation within 120 days of the effective date of this policy and providing a copy to the HHS CIO. This policy will not be implemented in any recognized bargaining unit until the union has been provided notice of the proposed changes and given an opportunity to fully exercise its representational rights. The HHS policies contained in this issuance shall be exercised in accordance with Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended, and the Secretary's policy statement dated August 7, 1997, as amended, titled "Department Policy on Consultation with American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and Indian Organizations." It is HHS' policy to consult with Indian people to the greatest practicable extent and to the extent permitted by law before taking actions that affect these governments and people; to assess the impact of the Department's plans, IT investments, programs and activities on tribal and other available resources; and to remove any procedural impediments to working directly with tribal governments or Indian people. _________________/s/_____________ 12/30/2005 Charles Havekost, HHS Chief Information Officer
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