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SmarTech Electronic Field Office Technical Guide Status Update

SmarTech Electronic Field Office Technical Guide Status Update. National Economists Meeting Reno, Nevada October 23, 2002.

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SmarTech Electronic Field Office Technical Guide Status Update

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  1. SmarTechElectronicField Office Technical Guide Status Update National Economists Meeting Reno, Nevada October 23, 2002

  2. SmarTech – is transforming the FOTG into a web-based conservation technology delivery system. It provides a portal to link numerous tools and databanks for instant field office and public access.

  3. NRCS employees have internet access to technology resources and references organized on a personal my.NRCSportal

  4. Technical Service Providers and the general public have access to every state’s electronic technical guide from the NRCS website

  5. eFOTG provides common look to Technical Guides User can set display to Tab Menu or Tree Listing Tree Listing provides navigation to selected topics

  6. eFOTG accommodates files in almost any electronic format including maps and documents with images

  7. Spreadsheet tools and photo images can be loaded into eFOTG

  8. eFOTG also accommodates links to other internet site technical references, tools, and databases

  9. Each eFOTG Section has a Table of Contents that is updated automatically as content is added

  10. eFOTG Provides Two Search Options Searches for match from Document Title, Abstract, and Keywords Searches for match from Subject only

  11. Content Manager allows Tech Guide Committees to Control and Manage Official eFOTG Login/password security controls who can change official content

  12. Content Information helps Content Managers keep the Official eFOTG updated and accessible Display Title is used in Menu and Table of Contents Abstract and keywords facilitate the search process Contact name and e-mail address for user follow-up is displayed under Info button Dates document the STGC Review Process and are displayed in Table of Contents Most eFOTG material is available to public but it can be restricted to NRCS only by CM

  13. eFOTG Web Site Statistics

  14. eFOTG Web Site Statistics

  15. eFOTG Web Site Statistics

  16. eFOTG Web Site Statistics • Crop Budgets • 28 States link to CARE site only • 21 States have separate links to other sources • Cost Data • 12 States with no data and 2 with Intro page only • 38 States richly varied in format (e.g. .xls, .pdf) and • type (e.g. Program Costs, Flat Rate Schedule, • Production Costs, Prices Paid & Received) • Case Studies • 10 States have procedures on how to do • 8 States have a total of 29 actual case studies

  17. SmarTech FY 2003 Stage II • My.NRCS Customization & “Thunderbook” Download • Scheduled for December 2002 • User manages links for Technology and other my.NRCS pages • User can download frequently used technical materials from eFOTG to laptop • State editable pages to post Tech Guide Notices and other information • Geospatial Resource Data Viewer

  18. Resource Data Viewer - a generalized map tool for displaying geospatial themes on-line

  19. SmarTech FY 2003 Proposed Stage III • Online Interactive Tools • Ask SmarTech Intelligent Query • Object Modeling System (OMS) Tools such as Runoff Curve Number Calculator & Engineering Design Programs • CPPE Update Tool • Program Cost List Tool • eFOTG eXtensible Data System (XDS) • Core Conservation Data in XML format • Practice Standards, CPPE, Costs • RMS Quality Criteria & Guidance Documents • Facilitates shareability with future tools like Online Conservation Planner

  20. Object Modeling System – Runoff Curve Number Calculator developed in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Service • Featuring On-line: • Digitizing & Attribution • Data Mart Interaction • Model Calculation • Results Reporting

  21. Engineering programs such as EFM-2, WinPond, survey programs and engineering tools such as hydraulics formulas.

  22. Customer Service Toolkit • Version 4.0 • Windows XP/Office 2002 • Minor Changes to Contract Wizard • Version 4.1(Proposed ) • Customer Folder Check-in/Check-out • Integration with SCIMS • Integration with ProTracts

  23. What is ProTracts? • ProTracts is the name of a pilot Web application to manage NRCS conservation program applications and contracts. • The pilot application is sponsored by Texas through the West Texas Telecommunications Project. • The Texas pilot targets EQIP and supports the administrative processes agreed to by NRCS and FSA. • The Texas pilot is planned to begin in December 2002.

  24. Characteristics of the Texas Pilot • Centralized A central database for NRCS administered contracts. • Secure Accessible only by authorized employees from the USDA Intranet. • Data is Protected by Permissions • By program—access to contracts for authorized programs. • By location—access to contracts in authorized geographic areas. • By approval authority—e.g. Designated Conservationist.

  25. Features of the Texas Pilot • Conservation Program Applications • Add and track conservation program applications • Approve applications with appropriate authority & permission • Develop contracts on-line or upload from Toolkit • Track Funds • Track obligations, modifications and payments • Prevent over-obligations • Conservation Program Contracts • Modifications or minor revisions, track contract status • Certify practices and approve payments • Manage correspondence with customers • Authorize payment electronically • Notify FSA through automatic email • Print completed forms

  26. Benefits for Field Employees • No duplication of data entry between Toolkit and the pilot • Contracts may be uploaded from Toolkit to the central database • Prevents mathematical errors and over-obligation of funds • Maximizes electronic signatures to streamline work flow • For practice certification, payment approval, correspondence • Eliminates passing paper forms back and forth with FSA • Information is exchanged electronically • Should result in faster payments for customers • Generates letters to customers • Standard letters are produced quickly and easily • Prints CCC and AD forms filled with data or blank as needed • No need to search for the correct form for a program. • Generates reports by program, date, fund code, practices

  27. If approved ProTracts migrates to a National Application, “My NRCS Contracts”, for FY 2004 • Customers obtain an eGovernment account and password • They may view all their contracts with NRCS • They may apply for practice payments on-line • They may inspect a Status Review LTP-13 on-line

  28. “My NRCS Contracts” Benefits • Convenience • Extends service center business hours to 24 hours 7 days a week • Reduces the need to travel to the local NRCS office • To apply for a program or to apply for payment • To obtain contract-related forms • To review and sign certain forms • Enables NRCS to approve payments faster • Knowledge • Encourages customers to actively manage their contracts • Keeps them informed • When applications are processed • When practices are certified • When status review are scheduled and completed • Allows them to view the same information that NRCS views

  29. The End

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