I. Welcome

Dawn Hughes-Morris (NFC, GESD/CMB) welcomed all attendees and thanked them for participating in the successful PCF migration from Philadelphia to Denver.

Dawn introduced representatives from the NFC: Candace Letort, Associate Director, Payroll Operations Directorate; Helen Young, Branch Chief, Payroll Processing Branch; and Debbie Byrnes, Chief, Financial Administrative Management Office.

II. Updates/Action Items

• EPIC Redesign: A Customer Notification was sent September 18, 2007, advising that the EPIC Redesign Sessions have been postponed. Once the rescheduled dates are determined, a Customer Notification will be sent.

• Pay Period Accounting Calendar: Advised agencies to please take one; they are on the table at the back of this room.

• Debbie Byrne described her organization’s responsibilities for the Service Level Agreements (SLA) and Metrics Reporting. Debbie encouraged agencies to contact her for an appointment if they had questions or would like to discuss agreements and/or costs.

• Dawn announced that the Payroll/Personnel Orientation is being offered once again, and is scheduled for October 23 and 24, 2007. The orientation handout you received contains cost for attending, along with hotel and other important information. This same information can be found on NFC’s homepage at www.nfc.usda.gov. Also, an electronic version will be sent to the CAPPS Representatives. (Action Item) – Responsible Organization: NFC/Publications and Communications Branch - Completed on 9/25/07

III. Introduction of the new Branch Chief of the Payroll Processing Branch

Candace Letort (NFC) introduced Helen Young as her selection for the Branch Chief of the Payroll Processing Branch. Helen has worked at NFC for 19 years, and has over 17 years of experience in NFC Payroll Operations.

IV. Tip Of The Week

Helen Young (NFC) announced NFC Bulletin 07-14, Implementation Of The Tip Of The Week Notification Process, was issued on September 7, 2007. The first “Tip Of The Week” will be published on October 2, 2007.

Dawn stated NFC would welcome any suggestions customers may have on future tips and requested agencies send their suggestions to the customer.support@usda.gov.

V. Returned Undeliverable Mail

Helen Young requested agencies appeal to their employees the importance of updating their change of address. An NFC Bulletin will be forthcoming explaining the importance of keeping addresses up-to-date. NFC stated this item is very important and will remain on the CAPPS agenda.

VI. Primary Computing Facility Update

Ivan Jackson, NFC, discussed the status of the PCF move from Philadelphia to Denver. NFC continues to have daily conference calls with our partner IBM and hope to have all issues completed by the weekend.

Some Outstanding Issues:

• DOJ was having printing issues with “J” net and we are working with them. As of September 20, 2007, this issue has been resolved.
• NFC is seeking another technical point of contact (POC) for SBA to establish the firewall at the Denver Data Center. A representative of SBA was able to send that information and Ivan reported later in the meeting the problem has now been resolved.
• Any agency having problems with EPIC should contact Operations Security Center (OSC) for assistance.
• Focus problems have been resolved.
  Discussion:
  A bureau of DOJ reportedtheir entire over seas department is not able to connect; DOJ will be sending in a new POC for connectivity issues.

• A Customer Notification was sent out giving the dates of first and second pass of PAYE for Pay Period 18, 2007.

VII. T&A User Group

Dora Lee Rosendorf, TR, is seeking a Co-Chair who is a client of STAR to assist with the T&A User Group. Customer Support will prepare a Customer Notification on this subject. (Action Item) – Responsible Organization: NFC/CMB and Dora Lee Rosendorf - Pending

VIII. OPM Regulatory Change (OPM Update 46 Testing)

Wendy Moore, NFC, PPSPS, reported results from the testing of OPM Update 46. We have extended the test window for FESI and EmpowHR customers through the end of this week. Implementation is scheduled for Pay Period 20 and a NFC bulletin will be distributed prior to the implementation date. (Action Item)– Responsible Organization: NFC PPSPS/ Wendy Moore - Pending

IX. SPPS Web for Tracking Written and Telephone Inquiries

Candace Letort reported NFC is working on implementing a new written inquiries process that will assist with entering and tracking of written inquiries using SPPS Web. The implementation of this project will take place in Pay Period 22. A NFC bulletin will be issued prior to Pay Period 20, which will provide instructions on entering written inquiries into SPPS Web. She also discussed the following: (Action Item) Responsible Organization: NFC/Payroll Operations Directorate, Candace Letort - Pending

• NFC is exploring other options for tracking telephone inquiries.
• DOTSE will be sunset, however, we will notify customers prior to this action taking place.
• NFC is working on a bulletin that will provide the average time frame it will take for handling inquiries and the proper procedures to follow if these time frames are not met.

X. Benefits Update, Jody Nyers, NFC, PPSPS

• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Account Numbers - after updating the passwords earlier this year, TSP is now moving from SSN's to an actual account number (i.e., a 13-digit number). The new account number letter will be mailed later this month. Once received, account access will be required using the new number, and not the SSN.

• TSP Auto Enrollment and L Fund Default legislation is still "on Capitol Hill" in pending status.

• The FSA Insert has been sent to NFC South for inclusion in the Earnings and Leave Statements (ELS) on EPP. We are looking to include this in Pay Period 22 ELS; again on EPP only - no hard copy ELS.

• Benefits Open Season runs November 12 thru December 10, 2007.

XI. User Group Updates and Meetings, Dawn Hughes-Morris, GESD/CMB

• The location for the Reports User Group Meeting, on 9/20/07, has been changed back to the Lincoln Room due to the postponement of the EPIC Redesign. CMB will contact K. Lewis and J. Austin to advise of location change.
• T&A User Group Meeting, on 10/23/07, will be held in the Lincoln room.

XII. Retirement System Modernization (RSM)

Thomas O’Keefe (OPM) provided an overview on the RSM Update that will be conducted today, September 19, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) in the Lincoln Room.

XIII. Lagniappe

• CSOSA is currently updating credit hours in TINQ and are noticing that the hours are dropping off the database. Helen Young requested for them to send her an email with the details to Helen.Young@usda.gov. Please be sure to include the employee(s) name and SSN(s). (Action Item) Responsible Organization: NFC/ Chief, PPB, Helen Young - Pending
• The SF-50’s remarks section is currently printing up to 3 pages. One user asked if the font could be decreased. CMB will check with the programmers to see if this can be done. (Action Item) Responsible Organization: NFC/Chief, CMB, Dawn Hughes-Morris - Pending
  
• One user asked why counters are not included on the T&A. NFC stated when Personnel Actions are processed in a timely manner the counters are correct in the Payroll Personnel system.
• CMB reported that the PCF Migration Customer Support Command Center is discontinued; a Customer Notification was sent out on Tuesday, September 18, 2007.

• Please note Test W-2’s should be sent via Federal Express on Friday, October 26, 2007; year-to-date totals are through Pay Period 20, 2007.

• One customer commented on the recent problems accessing the building for CAPPS meeting. CMB will issue a Customer Notification to notify the CAPPS representatives of the new procedures for access to the building starting in October 2007. (Action Item) Responsible Organization: NFC/Chief, CMB, Dawn Hughes-Morris - Pending

• Please note the Lincoln Room Number is 1623

• A Customer Notification will be prepared requesting an update of CAPPS representatives. (Action Item) Responsible Organization: NFC/Chief, CMB, Dawn Hughes-Morris – Completed 9-26-07

CAPPS Schedule:
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
No meeting for the month of December

Attendees:
Patty Moore (AG)
Carol Phillips (AG)
Linda Gandara (ARC)
Ethel Clayborne (AOC)
Jennifer Joyner (CFTC)
Paula Burton (CBO)
Gwendolyn Holmes (CSOSA)
Shavon Butler (CSOSA)
Claudine Cuffee (CSOSA)
James Hoebel (DHS)
Winston Farmer (DOJ)
Linda Reter (DOJ)
LaShonda Terell (DOL)
Juwan Samuel (FERC)
Frank Curnow (GAO)
Rosa Dortch (HUD)
Tracey Martin (OFHEO)
Shelia Thompson (LOC)
Cynthia Murphy (LOC)
L’Tanya Sesker (NEH)
Caroline Heard, (OSC)
Jeanne Hillock (SI)
Dora Lee Rosendorf (TR)
Rich Ehrlichman (VA)
Lisa Love (VA)
Amy Martz (DOJ/BOP)
Sheila Sobczyk (DOJ/DEA)
Robyn Johnson (DOJ/DEA)
Cynthia Baxter (SBA/ODA)

NFC North:
George Morris
Jody Nyers
Wendy Moore
Jo Bonner
Debbie Solomon

NFC:
Dawn Hughes-Morris
Candace Letort
Helen Young
Debbie Byrne
Gerald Spears
Ivan Jackson
Kathy Fernandez
Kim Geraci
Client Management Branch Customer Service Representatives