HR Update: Cheryl Wild

Cheryl Wild announced that the federal salary increase for GS employees took effect January 6, 2008 and will occur on the 1st pay period of the calendar year. A 4.49% increase including locality was approved.

Managers should review their TSP allocations and take into consideration the benefit of allocating their funds throughout 26 pay periods, and if interested consider making catch-up contributions to their TSP, if applicable. Refer to the HR portal website for more information.

The Senior Technician Laboratory Manager GS-14 position has been classified and the PD has been established. If an IC has possible candidates for this position, it must go to the Non-Tenure Promotion Committee, and be reviewed by the HR Specialist. This is not a career ladder position, but rather an accretion of additional duties position. It was mentioned that there would be very few of these on campus and this is not a mechanism to promote current GS-13 Lab Managers.

Cheryl discussed the proposed Assistant Clinical Investigator designation. Many IAMC members indicated that they didn't receive the full attachment. Cheryl will resend it to the group.

NBS Updates: Debbie Fountain

Debbie discussed the Invoice Payment Backlog and general causes:

1. Operating 2 systems (ADB and NBS) simultaneously
2. NBS complexity at the award stage
3. Vendor confusion related to new invoice requirements
4. New payment process requirements

Debbie discussed the actions taken by the NBS to address these issues:

1. OFM Onsite Support
2. Requisition Invoice and Payment Forum
3. OFM IC Volunteers
4. OFM Supplemental Contract Support for Commercial Accounts
5. Update of the "BillPay" web site for vendors https://silk.nih.gov/adb/billpay
6. OALM Buyer Communication to Vendors re invoice requirements/updated information
7. IC Invoice Specialists
8. Vendor Advocate Managers

Improvements to NBS given the above changes:

1. Contractors have increased OFM capacity
2. Invoices are now searchable
3. Invoices are moving through the System
4. ICs are more engaged in the process

Current NBS challenges continue to be:

1. Running 2 systems
2. Invoices with incorrect or missing information
3. Receiving

CIT- nVision Invoice Reporting: Michael Foecking

Michael Foecking and his team presented to the IAMC group. A few useful invoice and payment reports were demonstrated using nVision.

Some of these useful reports include:

1. How do I answer a Supplier's question regarding payments? ACQ-02,ACQ-08, and ACQ-27 are useful reports

2. How do I identify issues with Supplier Invoices being paid? ACQ-19, ACQ-06, ACQ-10, ACQ-24, ACQ-25, and ACQ-28 are useful reports.

3. How do I find out the status of unpaid procurements? ACQ-15

4. Which report can I run to get a payment history of all invoices for a specific document number? OFM-04, and ACQ-08

5. What report will give me a list of unpaid invoices? ACQ-19, ACQ-06, and UI-1.

6. How can I see invoices that are currently on hold and the reason for the on hold status? ACQ-24, ACQ-25

7. How much has been invoiced against my contract? ACQ-07, and ACQ-03.

Mr. Foecking reminded the IAMC group that if an IC needs a specific report that is not currently in nVision, they should put in an NIH Help Desk ticket, and nVision will prepare this report for the IC.

The Guide to Invoice Payments Reports can be found on the nVision home page under nVision Community Announcements.

Federal Desktop Core Configuration - Alfred Whitley, Deputy Director, CIT

Mr. Whitley provided some background on an OMB mandate that was distributed to all heads of Departments and Agencies on March 22, 2007 in an effort to improve information security and reduce overall IT operating costs. Agencies that have Windows XP and Vista operating system are directed to adopt the security configurations developed by the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Agencies with these operating systems must adopt these standard security configurations by February 1, 2008.

Mr. Whitley indicated that scientific devices would be exempt from this configuration and that for most individuals with administrative privileges would have them removed.

HHS Project Plan:

1. Begin establishing baseline configuration: 5/1/07

2. Complete baseline configurations: 8/31/07

3. Provide configurations to OPDIVs for testing: 9/4/07

4. Review OPDIVs test results: 11/15/07

5. Complete final testing: 12/31/07

6. Begin Implementation: 1/4/08

7. Complete implementation: 2/4/08

NIH Approach: CIT formed a working group in March 2007, with representatives from each IC. This group reviewed 300 FDCC security settings and provided feedback to HHS. A test environment was setup at NIH so that ICs could easily test the FDCC settings on production machines. Weekly connect meetings have been held with the working group. NIH is concerned that not enough testing has occurred.

Findings: Very few applications have not been able to function under the new settings. Access to some websites was affected, but they were resolved by changing web server settings or using something other than Internet Explorer to access a site if you must before it is upgraded. Some non-NIH websites can be affected.

Waiver Process - there will be a process to obtain waivers. Waivers will be required for anyone who needs administrative privileges or for any settings that prevent you from performing your mission or will void your vendor warranties. The IAMC expressed concerns that with contractor turnover, NIH should obtain waivers for positions instead of individuals.

Next Steps: CIT will continue to have Intramural scientists work with their IT support and ISSOs to document equipment requiring waivers. IC CIOs will begin moving systems and users to the Active Directory Organizational Units that have the FDCC settings assigned to them beginning January 4, with complete implementation by February 4.

Action: Alfred will send a list of all systems that have been successful thus far during their testing. (Sent to Ellen and Gwen on January 7, 2008)

Open Discussion:

Ellen Rolfes reminded IAMC members of interest in having each IC present their administrative structure to the group to help clarify and further explain the recent AO study conducted by Danielle Buice. It was agreed that each month, one IC will present a 10-15 minute presentation on their administrative structure, along with 1-2 best practices. NINDS volunteered to present at the February meeting. NIDCD will present in March.

Linda Adams and Ellen Rolfes reminded the group of the importance of attending IAMC related events. The recent Dealing with Contractors in the Workplace presentation held on December 22nd was poorly attended, with only one Principal AO in attendance.

Gwen discussed the possibility of starting theme months for the administrative community, and asked for other ideas on how to improve IAMC meetings.

Lynne will solicit members for the IAMC Agenda Committee.

Send Agenda items to Lynn, Ellen, and Gwen.

Important Dates to Remember:

January 17, 2008 from 1:30-3:30 pm - IAMC Brown Bag- Entertainment Funds- Joel Papier

February 11, 2008 from 9-11 am - Consolidated Administrative Leadership Group Meeting

February 7, 2008 from 1:30-3:30 - IAMC Monthly meeting