Enterprise Application Development and Support Services:

 

TFSG provides DHS-OIG Staff with Information Systems Engineering (ISE), design, and support services for applications (net-centric and client server), project management, software development and support, database development, database conversion, web development support, and information security and monitoring expertise.  In addition, TFSG has deployed Software Development Lifecycle methodologies and implemented CMMI standards.  TFSG also performs requirements and business analysis to develop detailed specifications for enterprise architecture development.

TFSG is also responsible for assisting DHS-OIG in formulating requirements analysis towards DHS-OIG Enterprise Architecture development and other Information Systems.  TFSG provides database design and development work and on-going support. Our Database Developers analyzed requirements and available data and generated a project plan consisting of detail specifications, design layout, test procedures, and acceptance criteria.

 

Help Desk and Client Support Services:

 

TFSG is responsible for performing a variety of different support functions through help desk operations, such as PC systems integration, office automation, system administration, and hardware support.  Such tasks include:

• Analyze, troubleshoot and advise callers for solutions to computer and peripheral equipment malfunctions.   By being pro-active, the help desk maintains a higher level of system availability and utilization and diminishes the number of calls for support, resulting in greater user satisfaction

• Maintain the integrity of the help desk automated system to enter/log assistance for requests as the calls are received. In addition, maintain all operating system and related software upgrades. This includes scheduling and installing all necessary patches.

• Maintain all operating system and related software upgrades. This includes scheduling and installing all necessary patches

TFSG maintained all capabilities of the facility including Servers, Workstations, Operating System, Application Software, Firewalls and Internet Services, Security Systems.  TFSG maintained a Help Desk system that provided approximately DHS-OIG users with efficient, easily accessed service.  Users may place requests through a central ticketing system (HEAT ™) and subsequently received help from a single point of contact.

 

Network and Infrastructure Support Services:

 

TFSG staff evaluated the existing system design, installation plan, cable plans, and the OIG network configuration plan to determine all equipment and installation requirements.  During installations, the staff coordinates with the respective vendors to assure that any required assistance is available in order to ensure that the equipment is installed and configured properly.

TFSG network engineers also maintain the security posture of the network and attached systems.  This includes regular security testing of network components and systems, handling security incidents, and installation of system virus protection software.  The management of IT security in the DHS-OIG operational environment involves risk assessment, threat analysis, and risk mitigation; continuity planning; system certification and accreditation; security monitoring and reporting; incident response and analysis; and corrective actions.

 

 

TFSG provides a broad technology support to the FEMA charter by deploying enterprise applications, monitoring network and application platforms, managing Help Desk operations, developing and assisting FEMA in implementing FISMA compliant security regulations and providing active reporting.

 

 

Demonstration Payment System (DPS) Maintenance and Support:

 

The Demonstration Payment System (DPS) provides CMS a system of record for processing payments to its various vendors for the purposes of payments processing under different demonstration programs. Payment files are created on a weekly payment cycle schedule by CMS DPS users and transferred to the Financial Accounting Control System (FACS) which in turn sends a funds transfer request to the US Treasury for funds to be deposited in vendors’ bank accounts servicing the demonstration payments.  Since 2005, TFSG has been one of the vendors in the vendor group and has received demonstration payments funds through this system.  Starting in September 2012, TFSG is sole contractor responsible for the maintenance and support of DPS.  DPS maintenance and support tasks include the following:

 

• Maintaining the DPS system environment through a close collaboration with the CMS IT staff and third party contractors to assure that the DPS system complies with all CMS IT governance and system security policies

• Representing the DPS to the CMS Security Testing and Evaluation (ST&E) audits (which is now referred to as Security Control Assessment) and comply with all associated (ST&E) reporting requirements

• Providing SAS programming support in implementing modifications, enhancements or updates to the DPS per CMS requirements

• Developing expertise in all CMS IT policies to ensure full system compliance

• Assisting CMS staff to process payments through DPS

• Providing on-demand technical assistance to the CMS staff for prompt resolution to DPS related system or user problems

• Resolving non CMS systems environment related DPS problems within 24 hours to allow user adherence to the demonstration payment schedule.

• Assisting in the transition of the DPS system link from FACS to the CMS General Ledger System (HIGLAS) and

• Developing new or upgraded file interfaces and other payment sub-systems to make payments for the demonstration projects through the DPS as required by CMS.

 

PAYMENT PROCESSING DIVISION:

 

TFSG performed short turnaround Payment Management, Processing, Distribution, and Delivery Mechanism (through Mail and NACHA Framework).  It was vital to develop a sound methodology and plan in approaching a payment processing and management system that conforms to the financial and accounting principles and support accurate and foolproof reporting. Only then event free and seamless payment processing could be achieved within the timeframe determined. Last, but not least, an accurate and timely capture of all activity during this process allowed for an efficient and transparent reporting that can withstand financial audits and common sense logic.

Since 2006, TFSG has disbursed over $1 billion dollars via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) deposits for CMS demonstration payments programs including the Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Demonstration, Home Health Pay for Performance Demonstration (HHPPD), Section 1109 Qualifying Hospital Demonstration (QHD), Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPCI), Accountable Care Organization Advanced Payment (ACO-ADV) Demonstration, and Accountable Care Organization Shared Savings (ACO-SS). In addition to the EFT payments disbursed, TFSG continues to disburse regular payments on monthly basis to individual beneficiaries via paper checks under the Acute Care Episode Demonstration (ACE). TFSG has developed and deployed a highly secure online process to manage the CMS funds disbursement using NACHA’s bank transaction standards.  The web based process facilitates CMS to track and review each step of the payment processing in near real-time as well as allow TFSG to manage and monitor the financial transaction activity.

 

APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT DIVISION:

 

TFSG provides HIPPA Compliant Enterprise Software Application Engineering; Business Process Re-Engineering, System Design, Electronic Data Interchange, Project Management Support, HIPPA Compliance Policy Implementation, and End-User Training Development services in direct support of mission critical systems for the Division of Demonstrations Management (DDM). DDM is tasked by CMS to implement the directives mandated by the United States Congress.

In this capacity, TFSG is responsible for assisting the DDM in claims processing and data gathering activities related to research and demonstration as well as the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) demonstration. TFSG’s solutions assist to DDM team of business analysts in determining efficient ways of administering Medicare programs.

CMS tasked TFSG with developing an analysis framework for the Municipal Health Services Program (MHSP).  The MHSP system runs on CMS’ IBM mainframe systems utilizing SAS.  TFSG is analyzing the claims from the MHSP Demonstration against a control group (regular Medicare claims) to determine if the increased availability in healthcare showed a benefit in longevity.  TFSG also performed data gathering from non-CMS sources (e.g. U.S. Census Bureau) to support more detailed analysis.

CMS also tasked TFSG with developing and maintaining the payment system for the Cancer Prevention and Training Demonstration (CPTD) and the Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration (SRRD).  Both systems utilize mainframe SAS to analyze beneficiary information and to identify target beneficiaries.  In addition, SRRD uses .NET to enable data analysis. For the respective demonstrations, TFSG developed the requirements and provided validation and production services.  TFSG also provides technical support to ensure that payments are accurate based on the current business rules.

 

Enterprise Application Development and Support Services:

 

TFSG provides DHS-OIG Staff with Information Systems Engineering (ISE), design, and support services for applications (net-centric and client server), project management, software development and support, database development, database conversion, web development support, and information security and monitoring expertise.  In addition, TFSG has deployed Software Development Lifecycle methodologies and implemented CMMI standards.  TFSG also performs requirements and business analysis to develop detailed specifications for enterprise architecture development.

TFSG is also responsible for assisting DHS-OIG in formulating requirements analysis towards DHS-OIG Enterprise Architecture development and other Information Systems.  TFSG provides database design and development work and on-going support. Our Database Developers analyzed requirements and available data and generated a project plan consisting of detail specifications, design layout, test procedures, and acceptance criteria.

 

U.S. Department of Treasury – Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) – Pay.Gov Application Programming and Analytical Services

 

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) produces the largest amount of security documents in the United States.  BEP prints billions of Federal Reserve Notes for deliver to the Federal Reserve System each year.  The notes are produced at facilities located in Washington, DC and Fort Worth, TX.  Pay.gov is a secure government-wide collection portal which is used by BEP’s eCommerce website.  The application is web based and allows government agencies to collect payments over the internet.

 

 

U.S. Department of Treasury – Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) – Section 508 Compliance of Documents for BEP’s Intranet and Public Facing Website

 

BEP requires the content posted to its Intranet and Internet (Public Facing) websites to be reviewed, evaluated and conformed to the Section 508 guidelines as dictated by the various rehabilitation and accessibility acts of 1973 and 1998.  TFSG was contracted to perform this task for BEP.  BEP regularly assigns documents to the contractor for final Section 508 compliance.

 

Since 2007, TFSG has provided IT Support including network, desktop and server management.  TFSG monitors the network from the ISP demarcation point and across all nodes and segments for performance, capacity and other criteria. TFSG diagnoses issues as they arise and implements remediation procedures or recommends configuration changes or enhancement as needed. Operations, maintenance, and support activity encompasses hardware, software, network, and transmission media. TFSG staff also provides services in project management, equipment inventory, system documentation, user support and training.

TFSG has also provided an assessment of the commission’s compliance with applicable Federal information technology standards and recommended the procurement and installation of hardware and software necessary to achieve a secure, efficient, and modern information technology infrastructure.

 

 

Data Warehousing Assessment and Capability:

 

TFSG conducted a detailed study and provided recommendations to the Commission on how to meet its data warehousing needs. The study was conducted in phases including an initial identification phase in which TFSG identified the various business owners and stakeholders as well as sources of information on infrastructure, business processes and policies and other available documentation. This phase was used to set up interviews and to gather as much relevant data as could be found and to generate a discovery report. The review, audit and analysis phase and the assessments phase allowed TFSG to conduct in depth analysis.

TFSG deployed its experienced database and data warehouse experts to conduct the analysis and generate an assessments report. By this phase TFSG had identified other systemic issues that it felt needed to be addressed in terms of the way resources were allocated and deployed and the impact of this on the efficiency of the agency. Outside of the scope of the contract but pertinent to the ultimate goal of improving data throughput, TFSG spent time in identifying what technologies were deployed and how they mapped to the needs of the various internal business users. TFSG created a diagram displaying these mappings. The recommendations phase leveraged this diagram to show why the recommendations are necessary.

 

Data Warehouse Prototype Design and Implementation:

 

TFSG created a comprehensive Project Plan for the prototype data warehouse development covering the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) including the following phases:

1. Discovery and Information Gathering

2. Requirements Definition

3. Architecture and Design

4. Prototype Development

5. Transition

6. Maintenance and Support

 

TFSG team members researched and analyzed FEC’s technical and business environments and interviewed client personnel from across the Agency.  Based on the knowledge acquired in the Discovery phase, TFSG sought FEC approvals and kept FEC informed as it formulated requirements, architected, designed, developed and deployed the data warehouse prototype.

 

Disclosure Data Warehousing Implementation:

 

The FEC has various data management systems and maintains large amounts of data in support of its mission. Some of the major data systems utilize mainframe-based databases, Oracle, DOCS OPEN, Lotus Notes with numerous Lotus databases, Team Mate audit management system and Campaign Finance Electronic Filing System. This data is presented in many formats and FEC needs to organize the data in such a manner as to provide ease of data retrieval, adding data mining and analysis capabilities.

TFSG has created a comprehensive Project Plan for the data warehouse implementation which includes several required tasks. The project plan covers aspects of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for each task as necessary with emphasis on deployment. In the previous contract, the emphasis was on the design of the data warehouse itself including the schemas, tables, ETL, etc. In this contract, the design emphasis is on analysis of data in the data warehouse and the outputs of the analysis in various formats such as printed reports, extracts files and feeds to other applications. Although the core data warehouse is not expected to change significantly, new requirements will require some modifications and additional schemas and other structures

 

Provide Bombardier Aerospace with important business analysis across various manufacturing modules including but not limited to:

 

• Research and document forecasting functionality within the CAS MPS module to support Material Logistics in their forecasting needs

• Research and document repetitive manufacturing functionality within CAS to support user need for manufacturing parts on a pre-defined schedule

• Conduct program and system tests to validate vendor program fixes applied to the CAS Cost, MRP and related modules. Report ensuing problems/issues for the modules to the vendor

• Perform business analysis of CAS requests from Material Logistics and Methods; work with the users and BTS analysts in gathering and writing functional specifications for these requests.