CAPPS Minutes- May 21, 2008

I. Welcome

Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC, GESD/CMB)

Announcements: 
***Dawn advised of the conference call being recorded***

She also mentioned the evacuation procedures in place for attendance at the CAPPS Meeting in the Client Services Office (CSO).

Dawn acknowledge John White, Acting Director, Government Employees Services Division (GESD), Debbie Byrne, Administrative Management Staff and Penny Forbes, Associate Director, E-Government Directorate.

II.  Discussion with the Acting Director, Government Employees Services Division (GESD)

John White, (NFC) advised he and other NFC personnel met yesterday with the CHCO’s of various agencies to discuss several issues.

·        NFC is in the process of developing a better governance model.  It’s imperative to the success of NFC that CAPPS is part of that success.

·        We will be reviewing and putting a plan in place to build on our HRLOB.

·         Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

·        Improving our line of service to our customers with training, enhancements

·        Working to resolving the systemic issues presented by various agencies.  We are in the process of grouping the issues by category and communicating with the agencies for additional information. 

·        With the updating of the Data Base change scheduled for Pay Period 21 some projects have been placed on hold.  The Client Management Branch has requested for each agency to prioritize their projects for after the data base change.

III. Table Management Update  

Helen Young, (NFC) explained last month a notification was sent to the agencies requesting that they submit updates to Table 63. Several agencies have not yet responded.  We are requesting that even those agencies that are able to update the table themselves send a negative response.  The Table Management Bulletin is expected to go out by June 13^th and will advise when using the new process will begin.

Action Item:  Table Management Bulletin, Helen Young, GESD  

A:  Helen Young, (NFC) we are not aware of the issue and requested that Karen provide documentation.

Action Item:  Karen Decesaris (DHS) to provide documentation to Helen Young    (NFC) regarding the Table 102 issue.

Q:  Kathy Orpin (TR) will the bulletin provide instructions for the correct format      to submit table changes.

A:  Helen Young, (NFC) Yes.  A mailbox has been established to submit             TMGT updates.  However, any changes over 100 should be sent to

  NFCGESDREQUEST@usda.gov.   

IV.  Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA)  

Ivan Jackson, (NFC) explained the NIST 800-47 is a special publication that addresses connectivity between NFC and the customer.  The Memoriam of Agreement (MOA) and the Interconnection Document must be in place in order to have connectivity to NFC.   Prior to NFC switching over to the Primary Computing Facility in Denver a template of the MOA and the Interconnection Document were sent to the agencies.  NFC is providing a window of opportunity to allow agencies time to complete the documents and return two (2) signed copies of each document to NFC.  If you have questions, you can contact Ruth Smyth at (504) 426-2606.

V.  FERCCA Updates

Candace Letort, (NFC) advised we have hired eleven (11) contractors and they are in the process of going through an extensive training program, which is expected to last 90 days.  We should be able to start processing FERCCA packages by the early part of August.  Further updates will be provided via CAPPS.

Helen Young, (NFC) explained when FERCCA cases are received they are logged into SPPS.  We are working closely with the TSP Liaison Section and the Retirement Section to ensure current updates are entered into SPPS.  It was recommend that agencies refer to the FERCCA Bulletin dated January 26, 2007, which provides all the information that should be included in a FERCCA package.  We are working to modify the bulletin and expect to have this completed in June. If you have any questions pertaining to FERCCA you can forward them to fercca.group@usda.gov. 

Action Item:  Helen Young, (NFC) to update FERCCA bulletin.

Jody Nyers, (NFC) advised that OPM is working on a Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) and we should wait for the BAL prior to modifying the bulletin.  Jody will contact OPM for the status of the BAL.   

Action Item:  Theresa Trentacoste, (NFC) will modify the existing FERCCA Bulletin on the NFC Home Page to reflect the Point of Contact change and the email address correction. 

VI. Retirement System Modernization  

Cheryl Ruf participated in an RSM call and Jody Nyers provided a brief update.  The title for Retirement Systems Modernization has been changed to RetireEZ.  NFC remains at Wave 4, which is scheduled for November 2008. The first 3 waves (GSA, USPS, and NBC) will continue on schedule; however, NFC & DOD dates may change.  Cheryl is working on the schedule of a client meeting to see a demo of RetireEZ as well and receive information on the Data Portal and DocHarbor.

VII.  Notifications Pending Responses

·        NFC Update z/OS Operating System Upgrade 

VIII.  Updates/Action Items  

·        TSP SCD
o Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) advised an agency has reported they are still having an issue even after the sweep was run.  We will continue to work with our application systems development group to resolve this issue.  

·        Job Aid/Bulletin for SF-50 Remarks
o    Theresa Trentacoste, (NFC) this is an on going project.  We have no project completion date at this time  

·        Employee Personal Page (EPP)/Agency Security
o  Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) we have provided this information to our Information System Security Office and we will be reporting back at next month’s CAPPS meeting if this could be a possibility.  

·   Undeliverable Mail
o   Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) mentioned last month we provided to the agencies the returned Statements of Earnings and Leave (SEL) for Pay Period 5. We are requesting that the agencies  review the returned items to determine if any changes should be made to the employee’s address of record.   

·   Remedy Web
o       We are in the process of having internal meetings to clarify and define the requirements for this important project. 

IX.      Benefits Update  

Jody Nyers attended the annual OPM Benefits Conference and their goal this year is get everyone "Ready for Retirement."  Whether you're newly hired or soon to be retired, preparation is the key.  There were speakers discussing Financial Literacy, Risk Management, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Credit Score concerns, Investments and more.

OPM indicated they have 3 "C" Roles, which are:

Capacity Builder - providing education/training tools

Coordinator - ID Resources/Build partnerships

Catalyst - outreach to the Federal community

They feel the agencies roles are to:

-Deliver and support employees via their programs, and....

-Employees must make a commitment to learn and take action

Penny Moran from TSP indicated the auto-enrollment function is not yet approved; it remains on Capitol Hill with the stumbling block being cost (i.e., the revenue because of pre-tax dollars and the matching funds by the agency); however, TSP hopes it will move forward.  The Interfund Transfer (IFT) limits were implemented May 1, 2008, which allows employee to make only 2 changes per month to any fund then after that only to the G fund.  TSP Bulletin 08-4 has the complete information on the IFT changes.  The TSP website is under construction and there is a survey they hope employees will complete indicating why they use the website.                                                                                                    

The Benefits Open Season Dates for 2008 are November 10 thru December 8, 2008 (remember it's Benefits and no longer just FEHB).  They are revamping the website www.opm.gov/insure to make it more user friendly and will be sorted into 4 categories: New employees, Current employees, Retirees and Agency Benefit Officers.  No date provided as to when that will occur.

New legislation they discussed include:

1)                  FWS employees will be eligible for Comp Time for Travel outside of their Tour of Duty (Jo indicated this took effect in PP 09)  

2)                  SL/ST employees become eligible for a 90 day AL carryover cap (it had been 30 days) (Jo is working on a draft notice to be issued shortly)  

3)                  Wounded warriors can receive donated leave without using their entire AL as long as they have a combat related injury  

4)                  Service Credit towards AL accrual for Academy Service Time  

5)                  FMLA - injured service members will be eligible for ‘military family leave' and anyone providing the care can be covered under the FMLA for a period of 26 weeks in a 12-month period.  

X.      User Group Chairperson Corner  

EPIC/FESI- Kathy Orpin, (TR) we are in the process of setting up the EPIC Web Demo for sometime in June.  The new FESI Layout conference call is scheduled for May 22^nd.   

Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) advised a list of the questions were provided to the community on May 20^th and each question will be addressed in the conference call.  However, additional conference calls may be scheduled as needed.  

T&A User Group- DoraLee Rosendorf, (TR) an email was sent out on May 13^th to the user group requesting for a response by May 21^st on the six (6) proposed STAR Web changes.  

Action Item:  CMB to resend the proposal to T&A User Group.  This action was completed on 5-23-08.   

XI.  Lagniappe 

Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) mentioned a notification was sent May 15, 2008 announcing the establishment of NFC Visitors Guide.  This is a great tool for any agency planning to visit NFC.  You can view the guide on the NFC’s Home Page at www.nfc.usda.gov under “Contact Us”.    

Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) advised that the Maryland State Tax Bulletin went out May 17, 2008 and the change will be implemented in Pay Period 13.  Dawn provided a heads-up on forthcoming bulletins for Kansas and Puerto Rico relating to income tax changes.  

Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) explained some of the fax numbers agencies currently utilize might be changing to 1-800 numbers.  A notification went out May 19, 2008 regarding this issue.   

Additionally, a second notification went out May 19, 2008 relating to the ABCO Lock Box.   

Kathy Bass, (NFC) advised that all checks should be sent to the St. Louis Post Office Box with the exception of Post-57 military deposits. 

Dawn Hughes-Morris, (NFC) provided the CAPPS attendees with the new Accounting/Pay Period Calendars.    

Questions from the CAPPS Community:  

Q:  Winston Farmer, (DOJ) inquired when would the programming go into place for the SL Pay Plan?  

A:  Jo Bonner, (NFC) explained the programming is in place and advised a Customer Notification will be going out some time later in the week requesting input from those non-title V by the agency or have SL/ST equivalents.  

Action Item:  Jo Bonner, (NFC) to send customer notification to CMB.  This notification was sent out May 23, 2008.  

Q:  Karen Decesaris, (DHS) can NFC provide an update on the delay for 9.0 EmpowHR and the potential impact on the database change?

A:  John White, (NFC) advised that we performed assessments in      EmpowHR 9.0 and found some technical issues, which will cause about a 10-week delay.  We are looking at target date of September 15, 2008.  However, this delay will have no impact on the database change.

Q:  Karen (DHS) inquired would NFC take another look at priority 4 and 5?

A:  John White, (NFC) explained we are looking at those issues and will  include those changes in 9.0.
Q:  Kathy Orpin, (TR) wanted to know where NFC was with the new       detail Nature of Actions (NOA)? 

A:  Jody Nyers, (NFC) advised that Wendy Moore was working on this  Project.

Action Item:  CMB will follow-up with Wendy Moore regarding this project.

Q:  Kathy Orpin, (TR) inquired about the new Bargaining Unit Status

A:  Jody Nyers, (NFC) advised that this is more of the agency coordinating with OPM.  We will follow-up with George Morris, (NFC) regarding the BUS codes.

Action Item:  CMB will follow-up with George Morris regarding the  information communicated previously.

CAPPS Attendees:
Patty Moore, (AG)
Carol Phillips, (AG)
Chris Jones, (AG)
Winston Farmer, (DOJ)
James Hoebel, (DOC)
Deborah Dudley, (DOL)
Tom Neumeister, (SI)
Maria Wennersten, (AOC)
Rachel Zinkhan, (CP)
Lucy McCabe, (FDIC)
Linda Gandara, (ARC)
Jennifer Joyner, (CFTC)
Juwan Samuel, (FERC)
Gwendolyn Holmes, (CSOSA/PSA)
Sue McMenamin, (FMCS)
LaTasha Mason, (PC)
Adrianna Benedetti, (SBA)
Kathy Orpin, (TR)
Doralee Rosendorf, (TR)
Ginny Towe, (BPD)
Kelynn Lewis, (DHS)
Jamie Santiago, (CBP)
Lucille Blakely, (CBP)
Si Nguyen, (CBP)