Functional Statements > Federal Student Aid

E. Chief Information Officer 

The Office of the Chief Information Officer has primary responsibility for promoting the effective use of technology to achieve FSA's strategic objectives through sound technology planning and investments, integrated technology architectures and standards, effective systems development and production support. CIO core business functions and processes include:

• E-Commerce Application Development;
• Enterprise IT Management;
• Enterprise IT Services;
• IT Business Services; and
• IT Innovations.

Within the CIO Immediate Office, support activities include:

• Providing COR responsibilities for the Modernization Partner.
• Negotiating service level agreements with the Department of Education Chief Information Office to provide appropriate levels of technical support to FSA users, including LAN/WAN and telecommunications.
• Managing and coordinating resources and schedules within the CIO Organization.
• Providing executive support to the CIO and other entities within FSA and the department

During the first wave of FSA re-alignment, the FSA Chief Information Officer will continue its relationship with appropriate counterpart functions at the Department of Education level to provide technology services and support to FSA. E-Commerce Application Development (ENIA)

E-Commerce Application Development is responsible for full life cycle development of mainframe and distributed applications for FSA, in support of the channels and functional areas. Specifically, E-Commerce Application Development:

• Designs, tests, and implements computer systems to support the needs of the channels and functional areas.
• Administers related databases to assure data integrity and reliability.
• Provides systems configuration management and change control.
• Provides user training as part systems implementation and roll-out.
• Coordinates the transition of new applications into an operational environment.
• Maintains systems documentation and procedural manuals in accordance with established standards and guidelines.
• Provides the necessary resource, financial, and procurement planning to support the design and development of computer systems.
• Manages special projects such as the Year 2000 Project and the Single Identifier Initiative.
• Performs contract-related functions and monitor contractor performance for application development.
• Plans, develops, and implements internal quality control and productivity analysis.
• Designs, implements, and operates the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) on behalf of the Channels

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Enterprise IT Management 

Enterprise IT Management is responsible for providing enterprise-wide technology planning and oversight, development and maintenance of technology architecture, development and promulgation of technology standards, and providing the necessary processes and discipline to ensure that FSA is investing in and using information technology wisely. Enterprise IT Management performs the following major functions and activities: Technology Planning:

• Develops and communicates a consolidated, consistent information technology vision and strategy for FSA.
• Researches, analyzes, tests, and plans for the implementation of new techniques.
• Provides expert analysis, advice, guidance, and support for the acquisition of technologies and technology related services.
• Provides liaison with the Department's Office of the Chief Information Officer.

IT Investment Management:

• Develops and maintains the IT investment management process for FSA.
• Provides support to the channels and functional areas in selecting, managing, and evaluating IT investments.
• Creates and maintains a profile of FSA's information technology portfolio.
• Provides liaison with the Department's Office of the Chief Information Officer

Technology Architecture:

• Develops and maintains the FSA enterprise information technology architecture.
• Works with Channels and functional areas to ensure the FSA architecture supports business requirements.
• Provides enterprise-level configuration management.
• Ensures new technologies comply with the established architecture and approve exceptions.
• Provides expert analysis, advice, and guidance to Channels and functional areas in evaluating and selecting appropriate technologies to meet their business needs.
• Provides liaison with the Department's Office of the Chief Information Officer

Technology Standards:

• Defines information technology standards, principles, and protocols to ensure interoperability of technologies across FSA.
• Evaluates and recommend technologies to be used in business solutions within channels and functional areas that are consistent with established standards and protocols.
• Develops and maintains overall web user interface standards.
• Performs contract-related functions and monitor contractor performance as appropriate.
• Provides liaison with the Department's Office of the Chief Information Officer

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Enterprise IT Services 

Enterprise IT Services is responsible for planning, managing, operating, and maintaining FSA's technical infrastructure, including the Virtual Data Center, FSA's telecommunication infrastructure, and FSA web infrastructure. Enterprise IT Services performs the following major functions and activities: FSA Web Master:

• Coordinates content development.
• Maintains the site and manages the change control process.

Telecommunications:

• Ensures appropriate telecommunication services are provided to support program delivery.
• Provides liaison with the Department's Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Data Center:

• Provides technical support associated with the Consolidated Data Center, including:
• Database management.
• Security management.
• Hardware and software support.
• Configuration management and change control.
• Facilities management.
• Systems training.
• End-user technical support.

Technical Support:

• Performs contract-related functions and monitors contractor performance for Systems Management and Technical Support.
• Plans, develops and implements internal quality control and productivity analysis.
• Provides liaison with the Department's Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Operations & Scheduling:

• Coordinates production job schedules across FSA legacy systems.
• Provides system processing activities and production support to meet the needs of the Channels and functional areas (e.g., application processing, payment processing, loan servicing, consolidation, collections).
• Develops operational policies and procedures for data processing activities.
• Reviews and evaluates processing activities to ensure compliance with established standards.
• Performs contract-related functions and monitor contractor performance for enterprise-wide systems.
• Plans, develops, and implements internal quality control and productivity analysis.

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IT Business Services

IT Business Services is responsible for providing the CIO organization with the necessary organizational management and program management capabilities to integrate the mission of the CIO with the mission of the entire FSA enterprise. IT Business Services performs the following major functions and activities:

Systems Modernization and Business Integration Management

• Manages and oversees enterprise-wide contracts that are intended to modernize FSA Information Technology (IT).
• Improves IT services to FSA customers and reduces IT unit costs.
• Provides technical assistance to CIO contractors concerning FSA programs, customer relations and FSA enterprise capabilities.
• Provides liaison (single point-of-contact on general FSA CIO matters) and communications to external stakeholder groups, including:
  1. FSA Business Channels and other Functional Areas within FSA;
  2. ED/OCIO, Office of Inspector General, Budget Services, and other entities within the Department of Education;
  3. OMB (in coordination with the Department's Chief Information Officer as appropriate), GAO, Congress, and other governmental entities outside the Department.
• Provides support to the FSA CIO with respect to relationships with other inter-agency groups with which the FSA/CIO may interface-such as the Federal CIO Council and Government Information Technology Services Board (GITSB), the National Partnership for Reinventing Government.
• Manages content on the FSA CIO Intranet.

Investment Management and CIO Budgeting

• Leads the enterprise in decision processes related to IT investment management required by the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.
• Manages the CIO budget cycle including formulation, analysis, tracking, and reporting of all CIO finances (including the discretionary budget and all contracts under the auspices of the CIO).

Provider Services Management

• Secures, manages, and monitors compliance with all FSA software licensing/agreements and all hardware purchases made by FSA CIO (in coordination with the Department's Chief Information Officer as appropriate). Human Resources Support
• Manages Human Resources (HR) within the FSA CIO.
• Interfaces with appropriate HR entities within FSA and the Department to provide dedicated services to the FSA CIO in the areas of: performance appraisal policies/reviews/appeals, rewards and recognition, position management, compensation, personnel recruitment support, personnel policy and administrative services.
• Insures CIO compliance with the General Performance Appraisal System and considers all FSA CIO employee appeals and grievances concerning GPAS.

IT Competency Management

• Provides liaison with FSA University to support the on-going development needs of IT professionals within the FSA CIO Organization.
• Manages skills assessment, development, and training process of all FSA CIO employees.
• Manages a process that provides opportunities for career progression and professional development, enhancing employee satisfaction as well as the overall skill base for FSA CIO.

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IT Innovations 

IT Innovations is responsible for providing a suite of online services and information to meet the specific needs and interests of the student financial aid community by using the technology of the internet and other electronic functions and processes to reduce costs, cycle time, and paperwork. IT Innovations identifies opportunities to develop innovative tools and services to improve customer service, reduce the overall cost of delivering student aid, and improve employee satisfaction. IT Innovations performs the following functions and activities:

• Provides leadership and direction for innovation activities.
• Identifies opportunities to re-engineer business processes to improve all facets of the Federal Student Aid delivery process.
• Conducts in-depth research and analysis and forms partnerships with industry experts, other Federal agencies, and Departmental staff, to identify proven "best practice" processes and tools.
• Manages and coordinates interagency projects.
• Develops innovative tools and services through pilots/testing of "best practice" concepts to determine feasibility and applicability to FSA.
• Facilitates the transition of proven tools and services to FSA customer Channels.
• Plans, organizes, and conducts innovation pilot activities.
• Evaluates innovation pilot results and lessons and incorporates program modifications.
• Keeps up-to-date with emerging technology and internet trends and recognizes and acts on the implications of technological changes prior to and when they occur.
• Provides subject matter expertise on innovation-related activities.

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