80 FR 10047 - Request for Information: Software Vendors of State and Local Management Information Systems (MIS) and Other Technology Solutions for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 37 (February 25, 2015)
Food and Nutrition Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 37 (February 25, 2015)
| Page Range | 10047-10049 | |
| FR Document | 2015-03848 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 10047-10049] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-03848] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Request for Information: Software Vendors of State and Local Management Information Systems (MIS) and Other Technology Solutions for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. ACTION: Notice; request for information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This is a request for information from Management Information Systems (MIS) software and hardware vendors and developers (``vendors'') to learn about the functionality of State and School Food Authority National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) data management information systems. It is not a request for proposal and does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All submitted information shall remain with the Government and will not be returned. All responses will become part of the public record and will not be held confidential. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information that will inform future data reporting requirements for the Department's oversight and management of NSLP/SBP. The Department is aware that all States and many school districts have installed and implemented MIS or other technology solutions to improve State and local program management. To better understand the availability and implementation of these solutions, USDA is requesting information from vendors about NSLP/SBP data systems they offer and have deployed at the State and local levels. The objectives of this request for information (RFI) are to: 1. Obtain background data to inform later research on State and School Food Authority (SFA) NSLP/SBP data management information systems. 2. Describe the functionality and capabilities of systems currently in use by State agencies and SFAs, or available to States and SFA for purchase. 3. Describe the typical costs of system development, installation, maintenance, and upgrades. 4. Identify which States and SFAs are using particular systems. DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be submitted or postmarked on or before April 27, 2015. [[Page 10048]] ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites the submission of the requested information through one of the following methods:Preferred Method: Submit information through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submissions. Mail: Submissions should be addressed to Dennis Ranalli, Social Science Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Support, FNS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be emailed to [email protected]. All information properly and timely submitted, using one of the three methods described above, in response to this request for information will be included in the record and will be made available to the public on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Please be advised that the substance of the information provided and the identity of the individuals or entities submitting it will be subject to public disclosure. All written comments will be open for public inspection at the FNS office located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, Room 1014, during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will be a matter of public record. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of this request for information should be directed to Dennis Ranalli at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) routine data collection requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) have their roots in the paper and early computer eras and reflect concerns with paperwork and reporting burden. Thus, data collected to administer and monitor these programs is typically reported at the State level, with detailed data collected at the service delivery point (e.g., individual meal transactions, school) often aggregated at one or more levels (e.g., school to SFA to State-level) before being submitted to FNS. Data aggregation results in a significant loss of potentially valuable information that could support administration, monitoring, and policy development. FNS recognizes that, in fact, managing a school food service program is a complex and data intensive operation, and that SFAs collect, generate, and maintain far more data than they report to their State child nutrition agencies. This includes data on costs, revenues, inventories, vendor management, and other business, administrative and regulatory activity. The same is true of State agencies that are responsible for monitoring the work of many SFAs. Some States and SFAs have developed more sophisticated data management systems to manage program data, however there is no comprehensive inventory of NSLP/SBP management information systems (MIS) in use, the number of States and SFAs that use MIS, or the data elements collected to support FNS reporting and general program management. The Review of Child Nutrition Data and Analysis for Program Management project will fill this knowledge gap by fully documenting SFA and State NSLP/SBP management information systems. This baseline ``as is'' review will document overall NSLP/SBP information system design, capabilities, functions, development/replacement and maintenance costs, and typical lifespan. The ``as is'' review is focusing particular attention on NSLP/SBP program management data that are collected or generated at the SFA or State agency levels, but are not required to be reported to FNS on any FNS program report forms. Findings from the RFI and additional review activities will provide a baseline for potential improvements to data collection practices and help support future MIS modernization and paperwork reduction efforts. They will also help identify promising and emerging practices and define models for MIS at both the state and local SFA levels. FNS requests that vendors respond in detail to the items below. Vendors are encouraged to provide any material that addresses the information requested or any other information that may be pertinent. Additional references or links to materials are welcome. I. Vendor Information a. Name of Company b. Address and Telephone Number c. Vendor Representative, contact number and email address II. Vendor Overview & Experience Briefly describe your company, your products and services, history, and ownership; for example: a. Web site address b. Main product/services c. Main market/customers d. Company location(s) e. Product deployment sites/school systems 1. Number of School District/schools currently deployed 2. Average/typical size of the school system 3. Year of first deployment 4. Years serving schools III. Product Information a. List and describe the core modules provided by your product. For example: 1. Point of Sale/Service (POS) 2. Prepayment system(s) for parents 3. Nutrient Analysis and Menu Planning 4. Inventory Management 5. Purchasing/Vendor Management 6. Production Records 7. Financial Management 8. Free and Reduced-Price Meals Applications Scanning paper applications Processing On-line applications Making eligibility determinations Creating benefit issuance documents Conducting verification 9. Direct Certification SNAP recipients Extended SNAP household members Other direct certification--homeless, migrant, foster 10. Meal counting and claiming 11. Administrative Review 12. Reporting 13. Any other not listed above b. Describe the capabilities and reporting functionalities of your product. c. Describe your platform--site-based, central office w/satellite, cloud-based, etc. d. For SFAs, are POS terminals proprietary or third-party? e. Is your system a commercial off the shelf (COTS) product with application in multiple industry segments or school nutrition specific? f. Does your firm rely on any `third party software products/ systems' for implementation and/or operation? g. Are any additional licenses required from `third party sources' to utilize your product? h. What is your product's ability to interface with other vendor systems? What level of customization is available? i. List the minimum and recommended hardware requirements to implement and utilize your product at each level of installation. j. Describe the interface capabilities between your product and various within-district student data base systems. k. Describe the interface capabilities between your product and State agency systems. [[Page 10049]] l. Does your system adhere to Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) standards? m. Please provide a list of data elements captured/stored by your product. For example: 1. Name of the data element 2. Description of the data element 3. Possible values n. Describe the processes/procedures/steps associated with planning, installation, setup, data import and conversion, data migration, quality assurance, deployment, and roll-out for your product. IV. Customer Support, Maintenance and Security a. Describe your model for providing customer support, including charge/cost structure (e.g., hours of support, levels of support). b. Describe your incident reporting and tracking systems, and the ability for customer staff to access those systems directly. c. List the types of support access that are available (web, email, chat, telephone etc.). d. Describe the communication and escalation processes/protocols in the event of failure, network outages, degraded service, and/or exceeded planned utilization. e. Describe your replication, archival and retrieval processes, including your disaster recovery model. f. Describe the warranty and maintenance plan(s) for your product. Have there been recent upgrades or updates to your product? How often do you typically develop and release upgrades? g. Is your support agreement integrated into the license agreement? h. Describe your understanding and system approach to privacy rules, specifically those related to children and students (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, etc.). i. Describe your process for upgrading your product to meet federal and state regulations. j. Does your product support access through smartphones, tablets, laptops etc.? V. Pricing a. Describe your pricing models relevant to each component of your product. b. Is your pricing model based on purchasing the entire product or individual module(s), or is it based on usage/users? c. Describe the upgrade process and cost to upgrade. d. List any additional pricing/cost information that would be useful to evaluate the affordability of the product. VI. Training a. What type of technical training do you provide? b. Describe your product's documentation and in-program help? Dated: February 11, 2015. Audrey Rowe, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2015-03848 Filed 2-24-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 10047
Animal & Plant Health Inspection created a cooperative, voluntary DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Service Federal-State-private sector CWD Herd
Certification Program designed to Food and Nutrition Service
Title: National Poultry Improvement
Plan (NPIP). identify farmed or captive herds
Request for Information: Software
OMB Control Number: 0579–0007. infected with CWD and provided for the
Vendors of State and Local
Summary of Collection: Under the management of these herds in a way
Management Information Systems
Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. that reduces the risk of spreading CWD.
(MIS) and Other Technology Solutions
8301 et.seq.), the Animal and Plant APHIS is combining 0579–0237 into for the National School Lunch and
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is this information collection (0579–0189) School Breakfast Programs
authorized to among other things, and will retire 0579–0237 upon the
administer the National Poultry approval of this renewal of 0579–0189. AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service
Improvement Plan (NPIP or the Plan), Need and Use of the Information: (FNS), USDA.
the primary purpose of which is to APHIS will collect information from ACTION: Notice; request for information.
protect the health of the U.S. poultry owners of elk, deer, and moose herds
population. NPIP is a voluntary Federal- SUMMARY: This is a request for
who choose to participate in the CWD information from Management
State-industry cooperative program for
Herd Certification program. They would Information Systems (MIS) software and
the improvement of poultry flocks and
need to follow program requirements for hardware vendors and developers
products through disease control
techniques. The NPIP regulations are animal identification, testing, herd (‘‘vendors’’) to learn about the
contained in 9 CFR parts 56, 145, 146 management, and movement of animals functionality of State and School Food
and 147. into and from herds. APHIS also Authority National School Lunch and
Need and Use of the Information: established requirements for the School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP)
APHIS will collect information using interstate movement of cervids to data management information systems.
several forms to continually improve the prevent movement of elk, deer, and It is not a request for proposal and does
health of the U.S. poultry population moose that pose a risk of spreading not commit the Government to issue a
and the quality of U.S. poultry products. CWD. Carrying out this program will solicitation, make an award, or pay any
If the information were collected less entail the use of several information costs associated with responding to this
frequently or not collected, APHIS collection activities: Memoranda of announcement. All submitted
could not affectively monitor the health understandings; participation requests/ information shall remain with the
of the nation’s poultry population. applications; sample collections and lab Government and will not be returned.
Description of Respondents: Business submissions; herd records; cervid All responses will become part of the
or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal identification; reports of cervid public record and will not be held
Government. disappearances, escapes, and deaths; confidential.
Number of Respondents: 18,097. herd plans; annual reports; consistent The United States Department of
Frequency of Responses: Agriculture (USDA) is seeking
State reviews; epidemiological
Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion. information that will inform future data
investigations; appraisal, destruction,
Total Burden Hours: 104,311. reporting requirements for the
and payment of indemnity; letter to
Department’s oversight and
Animal and Plant Health Inspection appeal suspension; Interstate management of NSLP/SBP. The
Service Certificates of Veterinary Inspection Department is aware that all States and
Title: Control of Chronic Wasting (ICVI); and wild cervid ICVI, and many school districts have installed and
Disease. surveillance data. Failure to collect this implemented MIS or other technology
OMB Control Number: 0579–0189. information would cripple APHIS’ solutions to improve State and local
Summary of Collection: The Animal ability to effectively sustain its CWD program management. To better
Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 2002 is control program. understand the availability and
the primary Federal law governing the Description of Respondents: Business implementation of these solutions,
protection of animal health. The law or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal USDA is requesting information from
gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad Government. vendors about NSLP/SBP data systems
authority to detect, control, and they offer and have deployed at the
Number of Respondents: 5,735.
eradicate pests or diseases of livestock State and local levels.
or poultry, and to pay claims arising Frequency of Responses: Reporting The objectives of this request for
from destruction of animals. Disease and Recordkeeping: On occasion. information (RFI) are to:
prevention is the most effective method Total Burden Hours: 383,383. 1. Obtain background data to inform
for maintaining a healthy animal later research on State and School Food
population and enhancing the Animal Ruth Brown, Authority (SFA) NSLP/SBP data
and Plant Health Inspection Service Departmental Information Collection management information systems.
(APHIS) ability to complete in exporting Clearance Officer. 2. Describe the functionality and
animals and animal products. Chronic [FR Doc. 2015–03907 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am] capabilities of systems currently in use
wasting disease (CWD) is a BILLING CODE 3410–34–P by State agencies and SFAs, or available
transmissible spongiform to States and SFA for purchase.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
encephalopathy (TSE) of elk, deer and 3. Describe the typical costs of system
moose typified by chronic weight loss development, installation, maintenance,
leading to death. The presence of CWD and upgrades.
disease in cervids causes significant 4. Identify which States and SFAs are
economic and market losses to U.S. using particular systems.
producers. In an effort to accelerate the DATES: To be assured of consideration,
control and limit the spread of this written comments must be submitted or
disease in the United States, APHIS postmarked on or before April 27, 2015.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 10049
l. Does your system adhere to Schools d. List any additional pricing/cost Call-In Number
Interoperability Framework (SIF) information that would be useful to If you wish to participate in the
standards? evaluate the affordability of the product. public meeting for the 29th Session of
m. Please provide a list of data VI. Training CCGP by conference call on February
elements captured/stored by your 25, 2015, please use the call-in number
product. For example: a. What type of technical training do
and participant code listed below:
1. Name of the data element you provide? Call-in Number: 1 (888) 844–9904
2. Description of the data element b. Describe your product’s Participant code: 5126092
3. Possible values documentation and in-program help?
Dated: February 11, 2015. Registration
n. Describe the processes/procedures/
steps associated with planning, Audrey Rowe, Attendees may register by emailing
installation, setup, data import and Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. uscodex@fsis.usda.gov by February 24,
conversion, data migration, quality [FR Doc. 2015–03848 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am] 2015. Early registration is encouraged
assurance, deployment, and roll-out for BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
because it will expedite entry into the
your product. building. The meeting will be held in a
Federal building. Attendees should also
IV. Customer Support, Maintenance bring photo identification and plan for
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
and Security adequate time to pass through security
a. Describe your model for providing Food Safety and Inspection Service screening systems. Those who are not
customer support, including charge/cost able to attend the meeting in-person, but
[Docket No. FSIS–2015–0007]
structure (e.g., hours of support, levels wish to participate may do so by phone.
of support). Codex Alimentarius Commission: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
b. Describe your incident reporting Meeting of the Codex Committee on For Further Information About the
and tracking systems, and the ability for General Principles 29th Session of CCGP Contact: Mary
customer staff to access those systems Frances Lowe, U.S. Codex Office, 1400
AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary Independence Avenue, Room 4861,
directly.
for Food Safety, USDA. Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202)
c. List the types of support access that
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and 205–7760, Fax: (202) 720–3157, Email:
are available (web, email, chat,
telephone etc.). request for comments. USCODEX@fsis.usda.gov.
d. Describe the communication and For Further Information About the
SUMMARY: The Office of the Under
escalation processes/protocols in the Public Meeting Contact: Barbara McNiff,
Secretary for Food Safety, U.S.
event of failure, network outages, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence
Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
degraded service, and/or exceeded Avenue, Room 4861, Washington, DC
sponsoring a public meeting on
planned utilization. 20250. Phone: (202) 205–7760, Fax:
February 25, 2015. The objective of the
e. Describe your replication, archival (202) 720–3157, Email: USCODEX@
public meeting is to provide information
and retrieval processes, including your fsis.usda.gov .
and receive public comments on agenda
disaster recovery model. items and draft United States (U.S.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
f. Describe the warranty and positions to be discussed at the 29th Background
maintenance plan(s) for your product. Session of the Codex Committee on
Have there been recent upgrades or Codex was established in 1963 by two
General Principles (CCGP) of the Codex
updates to your product? How often do United Nations organizations, the Food
Alimentarius Commission (Codex),
you typically develop and release and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
which will take place in Paris, France,
upgrades? the World Health Organization (WHO).
March 9–13,2015. The Deputy Under
Through adoption of food standards,
g. Is your support agreement Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the
codes of practice, and other guidelines
integrated into the license agreement? importance of providing interested
developed by its committees, and by
h. Describe your understanding and parties the opportunity to obtain
promoting their adoption and
system approach to privacy rules, background information on the 29th
Session of CCGP and to address items implementation by governments, Codex
specifically those related to children
on the agenda. seeks to protect the health of consumers
and students (Children’s Online Privacy
and ensure fair practices in the food
Protection Act, Family Educational DATES: The public meeting is scheduled
trade.
Rights and Privacy Act, etc.). for Wednesday, February 25, 2014 from The CCGP is responsible for dealing
i. Describe your process for upgrading 1–4 p.m. with procedural and general matters
your product to meet federal and state ADDRESSES: The public meeting will referred to it by Codex, for proposing
regulations. take place at the South Building, United amendments to the Codex Procedural
j. Does your product support access States Department of Agriculture Manual, and for reviewing and
through smartphones, tablets, laptops (USDA), 1400 Independence Ave SW., endorsing procedural provisions and
etc.? Room 1160, Washington, DC 20250. texts forwarded by Codex Committees
V. Pricing Documents related to the 29th Session for inclusion in the Procedural Manual.
of CCGP will be accessible on-line at the The Committee is hosted by France.
a. Describe your pricing models
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
following address: http://
relevant to each component of your www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings- Issues To Be Discussed at the Public
product. reports/en/. Meeting
b. Is your pricing model based on Mary Frances Lowe, U.S. Delegate to The following items on the agenda for
purchasing the entire product or the 29th Session of CCGP, invites the 29th Session of CCGP will be
individual module(s), or is it based on interested U.S. parties to submit their discussed during the public meeting:
usage/users? comments electronically to the • Matters Referred to the Committee
c. Describe the upgrade process and following email address: USCODEX@ • Proposed amendments to the Terms
cost to upgrade. fsis.usda.gov. of Reference of CCGP
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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:08:37
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:08:37
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice; request for information. | |
| Dates | To be assured of consideration, written comments must be submitted or postmarked on or before April 27, 2015. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information or copies of this request for information should be directed to Dennis Ranalli at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 10047 |
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