INTRODUCTION TO C.REQUEST

1. INTRODUCTION TO C.REQUEST Help Desk (301) 444-2854

2. COURSE OBJECTIVESCLASS TAKES APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES • THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS • SYSTEM SETTINGS • ACCESSING C.REQUEST • LOGIN • LEARNING ABOUT THE TOOLBAR • INBOX • MY PROFILE • HELP • BUSINESS RULES/CUSTOM HELP • LINKS • CLOSING

3. Submit Obligate THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS The Requisitioner realizes a need. Requisitioners use the C.Request system to create a requisition & define the funds. The Acquisition Staff creates a contract to buy the product or service. Acquisition staff use the C.Buy system to create the contract and obligate the funds. The Finance Staff posts the funding and pays the invoices. The Finance Staff use the CFS system to post and pay invoices

4. SYSTEM SETTINGS • Use Internet Explorer to access C.Request (Other browsers are not supported) • Before starting there is a one-time set up for the level of security. This will not need to be repeated. Security Setup: • Select the Tools menu • Select Internet Options • Select the Advanced tab • Scroll to bottom • Confirm ‘Use TLS 1.0’ is checked • Select OK to exit Level of Security

5. ACCESS C.REQUEST • To request a ID and password go to: • http://www.ago.noaa.gov/ad/systems/crequest.shtml • Open Internet Explorer. • To access CRequest from outside of a NOAA office the system will need to be logged into VPN, please see local Help Desk for more information on VPN. • Go to the following URL Select CRequest for NOAA -Production https://crequestprod.ocs.doc.gov

6. LOGIN Use all UPPERCASE for Logon ID Passwords are case sensative. Enter it exactly as provided to you. Select Submit to enter C.Request Warning: After 3 unsuccessful login attempts the system locks. Call the Help Desk at (301) 444-2854. See Appendix for more login error information

7. LOGIN - ENTER HOME PAGE Login takes the User to HOME

8. LEARNING ABOUT THE TOOL BAR HOME – From Home you create new, search existing, and manage requisitions. MY PROFILE – This is where you set your User Preferences. BUSINESS RULES/CUSTOM HELP – Not currently utilized HELP – Launches the Comprizon Suite online help. Some may not apply to NOAA. LINKS – Links to standard websites such as DOC, GSA, and CACI. INBOX – Contains requisitions you have routed for review and/or approval.

9. INBOX INBOX The INBOX will be explored in the Approver Training module. INBOX – Contains requisitions you have routed for review and/or approval.

10. MY PROFILE My Profile There is a verification screen before entering the My Profile area. Continue = To My Profile Cancel = Returns to Home Enter C.Request login password. This is the same password entered at the CRequest Login.

11. MY PROFILE My Profile • My Profile is where the User Preferences are set. • Verify account information for accuracy after receiving the new account.

12. MY PROFILE – ADMINISTRATION TAB You can change the name, title, phone number, fax number and email address. Remember to update these if they change. Change can be made to the name, title, phone number, fax number and email address. Remember to update these if they change. Administration is the first tab. Note that the selected tab is grey. System can only send an email to correct email addresses so check for accuracy These fields can only be edited by the System Administrators: - Code – Office - Active

13. MY PROFILE – ADMINISTRATION TAB Send E-Mail – When checked, email will be sent when a requisition is routed to INBOX. Recommended. Action Alerts – When checked, emails with status for individual requisitions will be sent. Forward Items – Out of Office feature to temporarily re-route requisitions while out of the office. Select ID of person to forward items Blue Command Buttons: Save = saves data, but returns you to the Home Apply = saves the data, keeps you on same page (preferred) Reset = clears fields for re-entry Cancel = returns you to Home without saving

14. MY PROFILE – ADDRESSES • Setting defaults is highly recommended • Set default addresses here. These addresses will automatically pre-populate the address field each time a requisition is created. • Even though the system will pre-populate the requisition with the ‘default addresses,’ edits can be made per requisition. • Only Contracting Office, Purchase For, Deliver To, & Ultimate Destination Addresses apply to the DOC usage of this system. The other addresses may be left blank. Use the Magnifying glass to look up addresses

15. MY PROFILE - AUTHORITY • NOT Applicable to Users. • Can only be audited by the System Administrators.

16. MY PROFILE - WARRANTS • NOT Applicable to Users. • Can only be audited by the System Administrators.

17. MY PROFILE – LOGINS/PASSWORDS FPDS-NG – Only applies to CBuy. Login Password – Use to log into the system. Expire every 90 days Signature Password – Is used for approvals • Passwords • Must be at least 8 characters • Contain at least one number • Are case sensitive • Expire every 90 days. Blue Command Buttons: Save = saves data, but returns you to the Home Apply = saves the data, keeps you on same page (preferred) Reset = clears fields for re-entry Cancel = returns you to Home without saving

18. MY PROFILE REVIEW • Use login password to enter • There are 3 tabs in My Profile to edit: • Administration • Addresses • Passwords/Login • Go to the Administration tab to set ‘Away’ routing before going on leave

19. HELP Help Upon selecting Help a Pop Up will appear

20. HELP Type topic to search on and hit Go All entries pertaining to the topic appear Click on the topic and instructions will appear DOC does not use all of the products referenced in search. Some of the topics will not apply.

21. BUSINESS RULES/CUSTOM HELP Business Rules/ Custom Help NOAA IS NOT USING THIS SCREEN STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE UPDATES

22. LINKS Links Links to several websites. Additional websites can not be added at this time.

23. CLOSING • Thank you for taking the CRequest Introduction Course • Help Desk 301-444-2854 • Visit the CRequest web page: • http://www.ago.noaa.gov/ad/systems/crequest.shtml • To request a User ID • General system status and information • Coming Soon: • CRequest Approver Course • CRequest Create a Requisition Course

24. APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW • Blue Command Bar • Calendar Icon • Drop Down Arrow • Hyperlink • Letter Case • Mandatory Field • Magnifying Glass • Mark Box • Menu / Grey vs Black • Refresh • Summary Screen • Status Message

25. APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW i. Blue Command Bar The blue Command Bar initiates your action Save = saves data, but returns you to the Home Apply = saves the data, keeps you on same page Reset = clears fields for re-entry Cancel = returns you to Home without saving ii. Calendar Icon Click the Calendar Icon and a calendar will pop-up. This allows the user to choose a date that the system will fill in automatically. Whenever a Calendar Icon is available, the user has the option to fill in the date manually in the provided field, or use the pop-up calendar. On the pop-up calendar, the inner arrows take you month to the month, and the outer arrows take you year to the year.

26. APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW iii. Drop Down Arrow Drop Down Arrows are used to provide a pick-list. No free-form fill is available - only the pick-list items. iv. Hyperlink An item with blue – underlined text is a hyperlink. Click the blue-underlined text to go to the item. v. Letter Case It is important to type in CAPITAL LETTERS while in C.Request. The system does not always recognize a lower case letter as the same letter as an upper case letter.

27. APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW vi. Mandatory Field * = Mandatory Field. If you do not fill in a mandatory field, then upon Save or Apply, a status message will appear at the bottom of the screen. If User leaves the screen without fixing the mandatory field, then all information (including defaults) will be lost. Resolve before going to another screen. vii. Magnifying Glass Click the Magnifying Glass Icon and a look-up screen will pop-up. This allows the user to search for available options that the system will fill in automatically. Whenever a the Magnifying Glass Icon is available, the user has the option to fill in the data manually, or select from the pop-up list to have the system fill-in. Select by clicking the clip-board with the red check-mark. Narrow your search by using the boxes at the top.

28. becomes APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW viii. Mark Box Click the box beside an item to select it. A checkmark will appear by selected items. Some screens allow multiple selections and others do not. After selecting an item, menu functions will be available (e.g., copy). For more information see Menu / Black vs. Grey. Example of functions available after selecting a mark box:

29. becomes APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW ix. Menu / grey vs black • Black menu items are available for the user to select. Light grey items are not available for the user to select. There are a couple reasons an item may be light grey and unavailable. • The User needs to select an item before a function (e.g., copy) is available, or • 2) DOC does not have licenses for the full C-Suite (e.g., FPDS), for which some options will always be light grey. becomes x. Refresh Click the Refresh Icon to have the system show the results for manually entered data. Use this to confirm that your manually entered data is correct.

30. APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW xi. Summary Screen Summary is the home base for the requisition. Select Summary to continue to work with your requisition. It is found on the left menu screen. Summary provides the Requisition Summary menu (as shown on the right).

31. APPENDIX A – GOOD TO KNOW xii. Status Message At the bottom of the screen is an area for system messages and status. If Cancel is selected before the issues are resolved, then the information entered will be lost. Do not proceed to the next step until you get a positive message such as ‘Requisition created successfully.

32. APPENDIX B - LOGIN - REGISTRATION SCREENDO NOT REGISTER Not entering through the HOME screen, means an incorrect ID was attempted at login. The registration screen will appear. PLEASE DO NOT FILL IN THE REGISTRATION SCREEN. Select CANCEL. Double check the ID with the Help Desk and try login again.