CIRCULAR
NO. A-130
Revised
Transmittal Memorandum No. 4
MEMORANDUM FOR
HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Management of Federal Information Resources
- Purpose
- Rescissions
- Authorities
- Applicability
and Scope
- Background
- Definitions
- Basic
Considerations and Assumptions
- Policy
- Assignment
of Responsibilities
- Oversight
- Effectiveness
- Inquiries
- Sunset
Review Date
Appendix
I, Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About
Individuals
Appendix II, Implementation of
the Government Paperwork Elimination Act
Appendix III, Security of Federal
Automated Information Resources
Appendix IV, Analysis of Key Sections
1.
Purpose: This Circular establishes policy for the management of Federal
information resources. OMB includes procedural and analytic guidelines
for implementing specific aspects of these policies as appendices.
2.
Rescissions: This Circular rescinds OMB Memoranda M-96-20, "Implementation
of the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996;" M-97-02,
"Funding Information Systems Investments;" M-97-09, "Interagency
Support for Information Technology;" M-97-15, "Local Telecommunications
Services Policy;" M-97-16, "Information Technology Architectures".
3.
Authorities: OMB issues this Circular pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) of 1980, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35); the Clinger-Cohen Act (also known as "Information
Technology Management Reform Act of 1996") (Pub. L. 104-106, Division
E); the Privacy Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a); the Chief Financial Officers
Act (31 U.S.C. 3512 et seq.); the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 487); the Computer Security Act of
1987 (Pub. L. 100-235); the Budget and Accounting Act, as amended (31
U.S.C. Chapter 11); the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993(GPRA);
the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. Chapter 7); the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-277, Title XVII),
Executive Order No. 12046 of March 27, 1978; Executive Order No. 12472
of April 3, 1984; and Executive Order No. 13011 of July 17, 1996.
4.
Applicability and Scope:
a. The policies in this Circular apply to the information activities of
all agencies of the executive branch of the Federal government.
b. Information classified
for national security purposes should also be handled in accordance with
the appropriate national security directives. National security emergency
preparedness activities should be conducted in accordance with Executive
Order No. 12472.
5.
Background: The Clinger-Cohen Act supplements the information resources
management policies contained in the PRA by establishing a comprehensive
approach for executive agencies to improve the acquisition and management
of their information resources, by:
- focusing information
resource planning to support their strategic missions;
- implementing a
capital planning and investment control process that links to budget
formulation and execution; and
- rethinking and
restructuring the way they do their work before investing in information
systems.
The PRA establishes
a broad mandate for agencies to perform their information resources
management activities in an efficient, effective, and economical manner.
To assist agencies in an integrated approach to information resources
management, the PRA requires that the Director of OMB develop and implement
uniform and consistent information resources management policies; oversee
the development and promote the use of information management principles,
standards, and guidelines; evaluate agency information resources management
practices in order to determine their adequacy and efficiency; and determine
compliance of such practices with the policies, principles, standards,
and guidelines promulgated by the Director.
6.
Definitions:
- The term "agency"
means any executive department, military department, government corporation,
government controlled corporation, or other establishment in the executive
branch of the Federal government, or any independent regulatory agency.
Within the Executive Office of the President, the term includes only
OMB and the Office of Administration.
- The term "audiovisual
production" means a unified presentation, developed according to
a plan or script, containing visual imagery, sound or both, and used
to convey information.
- The term "capital
planning and investment control process " means a management process
for ongoing identification, selection, control, and evaluation of investments
in information resources. The process links budget formulation and execution,
and is focused on agency missions and achieving specific program outcomes.
- The term "Chief
Information Officers Council" (CIO Council) means the Council established
in Section 3 of Executive Order 13011.
- The term "dissemination"
means the government initiated distribution of information to the public.
Not considered dissemination within the meaning of this Circular is
distribution limited to government employees or agency contractors or
grantees, intra- or inter-agency use or sharing of government information,
and responses to requests for agency records under the Freedom of Information
Act (5 U.S.C. 552) or Privacy Act.
- The term "executive
agency" has the meaning defined in section 4(1) of the Office of
Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403(1)).
- The term "full
costs," when applied to the expenses incurred in the operation
of an information processing service organization (IPSO), is comprised
of all direct, indirect, general, and administrative costs incurred
in the operation of an IPSO. These costs include, but are not limited
to, personnel, equipment, software, supplies, contracted services from
private sector providers, space occupancy, intra-agency services from
within the agency, inter-agency services from other Federal agencies,
other services that are provided by State and local governments, and
Judicial and Legislative branch organizations.
- The term "government
information" means information created, collected, processed, disseminated,
or disposed of by or for the Federal Government.
- The term "government
publication" means information which is published as an individual
document at government expense, or as required by law. (44 U.S.C. 1901)
- The term "information"
means any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts,
data, or opinions in any medium or form, including textual, numerical,
graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual forms.
- The term "information
dissemination product" means any book, paper, map, machine-readable
material, audiovisual production, or other documentary material, regardless
of physical form or characteristic, disseminated by an agency to the
public.
- The term "information
life cycle" means the stages through which information passes,
typically characterized as creation or collection, processing, dissemination,
use, storage, and disposition.
- The term "information
management" means the planning, budgeting, manipulating, and controlling
of information throughout its life cycle.
- The term "information
resources" includes both government information and information
technology.
- The term "information
processing services organization" (IPSO) means a discrete set of
personnel, information technology, and support equipment with the primary
function of providing services to more than one agency on a reimbursable
basis.
- The term "information
resources management" means the process of managing information
resources to accomplish agency missions. The term encompasses both information
itself and the related resources, such as personnel, equipment, funds,
and information technology.
- The term "information
system" means a discrete set of information resources organized
for the collection, processing, maintenance, transmission, and dissemination
of information, in accordance with defined procedures, whether automated
or manual.
- The term "information
system life cycle" means the phases through which an information
system passes, typically characterized as initiation, development, operation,
and termination.
- The term "information
technology" means any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem
of equipment, that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation,
management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission,
or reception of data or information by an executive agency. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, equipment is used by an executive agency
if the equipment is used by the executive agency directly or is used
by a contractor under a contract with the executive agency which (i)
requires the use of such equipment, or (ii) requires the use, to a significant
extent, of such equipment in the performance of a service or the furnishing
of a product. The term "information technology" includes computers,
ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services
(including support services), and related resources. The term "information
technology" does not include any equipment that is acquired by
a Federal contractor incidental to a Federal contract. The term "information
technology" does not include national security systems as defined
in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (40 U.S.C. 1452).
- The term "Information
Technology Resources Board" (Resources Board) means the board established
by Section 5 of Executive Order 13011.
- The term "major
information system" means an information system that requires special
management attention because of its importance to an agency mission;
its high development, operating, or maintenance costs; or its significant
role in the administration of agency programs, finances, property, or
other resources.
- The term "national
security system" means any telecommunications or information system
operated by the United States Government, the function, operation, or
use of which (1) involves intelligence activities; (2) involves cryptologic
activities related to national security; (3) involves command and control
of military forces; (4) involves equipment that is an integral part
of a weapon or weapons system; or (5) is critical to the direct fulfillment
of military or intelligence missions, but excluding any system that
is to be administrative and business applications (including payroll,
finance, logistics, and personnel management applications). The policies
and procedures established in this Circular will apply to national security
systems in a manner consistent with the applicability and related limitations
regarding such systems set out in Section 5141 of the Clinger-Cohen
Act (Pub. L. 104-106, 40 U.S.C. 1451). Applicability of Clinger-Cohen
Act to national security systems shall include budget document preparation
requirements set forth in OMB Circular A-11. The resultant budget document
may be classified in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order
12958.
- The term "records"
means all books, papers, maps, photographs, machine-readable materials,
or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics,
made or received by an agency of the United States Government under
Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business
and preserved or appropriate for preservation by that agency or its
legitimate successoras evidence of the organization, functions, policies,
decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the government
or because of the informational value of the data in them. Library and
museum material made or acquired and preserved solely for reference
or exhibition purposes, extra copies of documents preserved only for
convenience of reference, and stocks of publications and of processed
documents are not included. (44 U.S.C. 3301)
- The term "records
management" means the planning, controlling, directing, organizing,
training, promoting, and other managerial activities involved with respect
to records creation, records maintenance and use, and records disposition
in order to achieve adequate and proper documentation of the policies
and transactions of the Federal Government and effective and economical
management of agency operations. (44 U.S.C. 2901(2))
- The term "service
recipient" means an agency organizational unit, programmatic entity,
or chargeable account that receives information processing services
from an information processing service organization (IPSO). A service
recipient may be either internal or external to the organization responsible
for providing information resources services, but normally does not
report either to the manager or director of the IPSO or to the same
immediate supervisor.
7.
Basic Considerations and Assumptions:
- The Federal Government
is the largest single producer, collector, consumer, and disseminator
of information in the United States. Because of the extent of the government's
information activities, and the dependence of those activities upon
public cooperation, the management of Federal information resources
is an issue of continuing importance to all Federal agencies, State
and local governments, and the public.
- Government information
is a valuable national resource. It provides the public with knowledge
of the government, society, and economy -- past, present, and future.
It is a means to ensure the accountability of government, to manage
the government's operations, to maintain the healthy performance of
the economy, and is itself a commodity in the marketplace.
- The free flow
of information between the government and the public is essential to
a democratic society. It is also essential that the government minimize
the Federal paperwork burden on the public, minimize the cost of its
information activities, and maximize the usefulness of government information.
- In order to minimize
the cost and maximize the usefulness of government information, the
expected public and private benefits derived from government information
should exceed the public and private costs of the information, recognizing
that the benefits to be derived from government information may not
always be quantifiable.
- The nation can
benefit from government information disseminated both by Federal agencies
and by diverse nonfederal parties, including State and local government
agencies, educational and other not-for-profit institutions, and for-profit
organizations.
- Because the public
disclosure of government information is essential to the operation of
a democracy, the management of Federal information resources should
protect the public's right of access to government information.
- The individual's
right to privacy must be protected in Federal Government information
activities involving personal information.
- Systematic attention
to the management of government records is an essential component of
sound public resources management which ensures public accountability.
Together with records preservation, it protects the government's historical
record and guards the legal and financial rights of the government and
the public.
- Strategic planning
improves the operation of government programs. The agency strategic
plan will shape the redesign of work processes and guide the development
and maintenance of an Enterprise Architecture and a capital planning
and investment control process. This management approach promotes the
appropriate application of Federal information resources.
- Because State
and local governments are important producers of government information
for many areas such as health, social welfare, labor, transportation,
and education, the Federal Government must cooperate with these governments
in the management of information resources.
- The open and efficient
exchange of scientific and technical government information, subject
to applicable national security controls and the proprietary rights
of others, fosters excellence in scientific research and effective use
of Federal research and development funds.
- Information technology
is not an end in itself. It is one set of resources that can improve
the effectiveness and efficiency of Federal program delivery.
- Federal Government
information resources management policies and activities can affect,
and be affected by, the information policies and activities of other
nations.
- Users of Federal
information resources must have skills, knowledge, and training to manage
information resources, enabling the Federal government to effectively
serve the public through automated means.
- The application
of up-to-date information technology presents opportunities to promote
fundamental changes in agency structures, work processes, and ways of
interacting with the public that improve the effectiveness and efficiency
of Federal agencies.
- The availability
of government information in diverse media, including electronic formats,
permits agencies and the public greater flexibility in using the information.
- Federal managers
with program delivery responsibilities should recognize the importance
of information resources management to mission performance.
- The Chief Information
Officers Council and the Information Technology Resources Board will
help in the development and operation of interagency and interoperable
shared information resources to support the performance of government
missions.
8.
Policy:
- Information Management Policy
- How will agencies
conduct Information Management Planning?
Agencies must plan in an integrated manner for managing information
throughout its life cycle. Agencies will:
(a) Consider,
at each stage of the information life cycle, the effects of decisions
and actions on other stages of the life cycle, particularly those
concerning information dissemination;
(b) Consider
the effects of their actions on members of the public and ensure
consultation with the public as appropriate;
(c) Consider
the effects of their actions on State and local governments and
ensure consultation with those governments as appropriate;
(d) Seek
to satisfy new information needs through interagency or intergovernmental
sharing of information, or through commercial sources, where appropriate,
before creating or collecting new information;
(e) Integrate
planning for information systems with plans for resource allocation
and use, including budgeting, acquisition, and use of information
technology;
(f) Train
personnel in skills appropriate to management of information;
(g) Protect
government information commensurate with the risk and magnitude
of harm that could result from the loss, misuse, or unauthorized
access to or modification of such information;
(h) Use
voluntary standards and Federal Information Processing Standards
where appropriate or required;
(i) Consider
the effects of their actions on the privacy rights of individuals,
and ensure that appropriate legal and technical safeguards are implemented;
(j) Record,
preserve, and make accessible sufficient information to ensure the
management and accountability of agency programs, and to protect
the legal and financial rights of the Federal Government;
(k) Incorporate
records management and archival functions into the design, development,
and implementation of information systems;
1.
Provide for public access to records where required or appropriate.
- What
are the guidelines for Information Collection?
Agencies
must collect or create only that information necessary for the proper
performance of agency functions and which has practical utility.
- What are the
guidelines for Electronic Information Collection?
Executive agencies under Sections 1703 and 1705 of the Government
Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), P. L. 105-277, Title XVII, are
required to provide, by October 21, 2003, the (1) option of the
electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information,
when practicable as a substitute for paper; and (2) use and acceptance
of electronic signatures, when practicable. Agencies will follow
the provisions in OMB Memorandum M-00-10, "Procedures and Guidance
on Implementing of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act."
- How must agencies
implement Records Management?
Agencies will:
(a) Ensure that records management programs provide adequate and
proper documentation of agency activities;
(b) Ensure the ability to access records regardless of form or medium;
(c) In a timely fashion, establish, and obtain the approval of the
Archivist of the United States for retention schedules for Federal
records; and
(d) Provide training and guidance as appropriate to all agency officials
and employees and contractors regarding their Federal records management
responsibilities.
- How must an
agency provide information to the public?
Agencies have a responsibility to provide information to the public
consistent with their missions. Agencies will discharge this responsibility
by:
(a) Providing information, as required by law, describing agency
organization, activities, programs, meetings, systems of records,
and other information holdings, and how the public may gain access
to agency information resources;
(b) Providing access to agency records under provisions of the Freedom
of Information Act and the Privacy Act, subject to the protections
and limitations provided for in these Acts;
(c) Providing
such other information as is necessary or appropriate for the proper
performance of agency functions; and
(d) In
determining whether and how to disseminate information to the public,
agencies will:
(i) Disseminate
information in a manner that achieves the best balance between the goals
of maximizing the usefulness of the information and minimizing the cost
to the government and the public;
(ii) Disseminate
information dissemination products on equitable and timely terms;
(iii) Take advantage
of all dissemination channels, Federal and nonfederal, including State
and local governments, libraries and private sector entities, in discharging
agency information dissemination responsibilities;
(iv) Help the public
locate government information maintained by or for the agency.
- What
is an Information Dissemination Management System?
Agencies will maintain
and implement a management system for all information dissemination products
which must, at a minimum:
(a) Assure that information dissemination products are necessary for proper
performance of agency functions (44 U.S.C. 1108);
(b) Consider whether an information dissemination product available from
other Federal or nonfederal sources is equivalent to an agency information
dissemination product and reasonably fulfills the dissemination responsibilities
of the agency;
(c) Establish and maintain inventories of all agency information dissemination
products;
(d) Develop such other aids to locating agency information dissemination
products including catalogs and directories, as may reasonably achieve agency
information dissemination objectives;
(e) Identify in information dissemination products the source of the information,
if from another agency;
(f) Ensure that members of the public with disabilities whom the agency
has a responsibility to inform have a reasonable ability to access the information
dissemination products;
(g) Ensure that government
publications are made available to depository libraries through the facilities
of the Government Printing Office, as required by law (44 U.S.C. Part 19);
(h) Provide electronic
information dissemination products to the Government Printing Office for
distribution to depository libraries;
(i) Establish and maintain
communications with members of the public and with State and local governments
so that the agency creates information dissemination products that meet
their respective needs;
(j) Provide adequate
notice when initiating, substantially modifying, or terminating significant
information dissemination products; and
(k) Ensure that, to the extent existing information dissemination policies
or practices are inconsistent with the requirements of this Circular, a
prompt and orderly transition to compliance with the requirements of this
Circular is made.
- How
must agencies avoid improperly restrictive practices?
Agencies
will:
(a) Avoid
establishing, or permitting others to establish on their behalf, exclusive,
restricted, or other distribution arrangements that interfere with the
availability of information dissemination products on a timely and equitable
basis;
(b) Avoid
establishing restrictions or regulations, including the charging of
fees or royalties, on the reuse, resale, or redissemination of Federal
information dissemination products by the public; and,
(c) Set user
charges for information dissemination products at a level sufficient
to recover the cost of dissemination but no higher. They must exclude
from calculation of the charges costs associated with original collection
and processing of the information. Exceptions to this policy are:
(i) Where
statutory requirements are at variance with the policy;
(ii) Where the
agency collects, processes, and disseminates the information for the benefit
of a specific identifiable group beyond the benefit to the general public;
(iii) Where the
agency plans to establish user charges at less than cost of dissemination
because of a determination that higher charges would constitute a significant
barrier to properly performing theagency's functions, including reaching
members of the public whom the agency has a responsibility to inform; or
(iv) Where the
Director of OMB determines an exception is warranted.
- How
will agencies carry out electronic information dissemination?
Agencies
will use electronic media and formats, including public networks, as
appropriate and within budgetary constraints, in order to make government
information more easily accessible and useful to the public. The use
of electronic media and formats for information dissemination is appropriate
under the following conditions:
(a) The agency
develops and maintains the information electronically;
(b) Electronic
media or formats are practical and cost effective ways to provide public
access to a large, highly detailed volume of information;
(c) The agency
disseminates the product frequently;
(d) The agency knows
a substantial portion of users have ready access to the necessary information
technology and training to use electronic information dissemination
products;
(e) A change to
electronic dissemination, as the sole means of disseminating the product,
will not impose substantial acquisition or training costs on users,
especially State and local governments and small business entities.
- What
safeguards must agencies follow?
Agencies
will:
(a) Ensure
that information is protected commensurate with the risk and magnitude
of the harm that would result from the loss, misuse, or unauthorized
access to or modification of such information;
(b) Limit
the collection of information which identifies individuals to that which
is legally authorized and necessary for the proper performance of agency
functions;
(c) Limit the sharing of information that identifies individuals or
contains proprietary information to that which is legally authorized,
and impose appropriate conditions on use where a continuing obligation
to ensure the confidentiality of the information exists;
(d) Provide individuals, upon request, access to records about them
maintained in Privacy Act systems of records, and permit them to amend
such records as are in error consistent with the provisions of the Privacy
Act.
- How
Will Agencies Manage Information Systems and Information Technology?
(1) How will
agencies use capital planning and investment control process?
Agencies
must establish and maintain a capital planning and investment control
process that links mission needs, information, and information technology
in an effective and efficient manner. The process will guide both strategic
and operational IRM, IT planning, and the Enterprise Architecture by
integrating the agency's IRM plans, strategic and performance plans
prepared pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993,
financial management plans prepared pursuant to the Chief Financial
Officer Act of 1990 (31 U.S.C. 902a5), acquisition under the Federal
Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, and the agency's budget formulation
and execution processes. The capitalplanning and investment control
process includes all stages of capital programming, including planning,
budgeting, procurement, management, and assessment.
As outlined
below, the capital planning and investment control process has three
components: selection, control, and evaluation. The process must be
iterative, with inputs coming from all of the agency plans and the outputs
feeding into the budget and investment control processes. The goal is
to link resources to results (for further guidance on Capital Planning
refer to OMB Circular A-11). The agency's capital planning and investment
control process must build from the agency's current Enterprise Architecture
(EA) and its transition from current architecture to target architecture.
The Capital Planning and Investment Control processes must be documented,
and provided to OMB consistent with the budget process. The Enterprise
Architecture must be documented and provided to OMB as significant changes
are incorporated.
(a) What plans are associated with the capital planning
and investment control process?
In the capital planning
and investment control process, there are two separate and distinct
plans that address IRM and IT planning requirements for the agency.
The IRM Strategic Plan is strategic in nature and addresses all information
resources management of the agency. Agencies must develop and maintain
the agency Information Resource Management Strategic Plan (IRM) as required
by 44 U.S.C. 3506 (b) (2). IRM Strategic Plans should support the agency
Strategic Plan required in OMB Circular A-11, provide a description
of how information resources management activities help accomplish agency
missions, and ensure that IRM decisions are integrated with organizational
planning, budget, procurement, financial management, human resources
management, and program decisions.
The IT Capital
Plan is operational in nature, supports the goals and missions identified
in the IRM Strategic Plan, is a living document, and must be updated
twice yearly. This IT Capital Plan is theimplementation plan for the
budget year. The IT Capital Plan should also reflect the goals of the
agency's Annual Performance Plan, the agency's Government Paperwork
Elimination Act (GPEA) Plan, the agency's EA, and agency's business
planning processes. The IT Capital Plan must be submitted annually to
OMB with the agency budget submission. annually. The IT Capital Plan
must include the following components:
(i) A component,
derived from the agency's capital planning and investment control process
under OMB Circular A-11, Section 300 and the OMB Capital Programming
Guide, that specifically includes all IT Capital Asset Plans for major
information systems or projects. This component must also demonstrate
how the agency manages its other IT investments, as required by the
Clinger-Cohen Act.
(ii)
A component that addresses two other sections of OMB Circular A-11:
a section for Information on Financial Management, including the Report
on Financial Management Activities and the Agency's Financial Management
Plan, and a section entitled Information Technology, including the Agency
IT Investment Portfolio.
(iii) A component,
derived from the agency's capital planning and investment control process,
that demonstrates the criteria it will use to select the investments
into the portfolio, how it will control and manage the investments,
and how it will evaluate the investments based on planned performance
versus actual accomplishments.
(iv) A component
that includes a summary of the security plan from the agency's five-year
plan as required by the PRA and Appendix III of this Circular. The plan
must demonstrate that IT projects and the EA include security controls
for components, applications, and systems that are consistent with the
agency's Enterprise Architecture; include a plan to manage risk; protect
privacy and confidentiality; and explain any planned or actual variance
from National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) security guidance.
(b)
What must an agency do as part of the selection component of the capital
planning process?
It must:
(i)
Evaluate each investment in information resources to determine whether
the investment will support core mission functions that must be performed
by the Federal government;
(ii) Ensure
that decisions to improve existing information systems or develop new
information systems are initiated only when no alternative private sector
or governmental source can efficiently meet the need;
(iii) Support work
processes that it has simplified or otherwise redesigned to reduce costs,
improve effectiveness, and make maximum use of commercial, off-the-shelf
technology;
(iv) Reduce risk
by avoiding or isolating custom designed components, using components
that can be fully tested or prototyped prior to production, and ensuring
involvement and support of users;
(v) Demonstrate
a projected return on the investment that is clearly equal to or better
than alternative uses of available public resources. The return may
include improved mission performance in accordance with GPRA measures,
reduced cost, increased quality, speed, or flexibility; as well as increased
customer and employee satisfaction. The return should reflect such risk
factors as the project's technical complexity, the agency's management
capacity, the likelihood of cost overruns, and the consequences of under-
or non-performance. Return on investment should, where appropriate,
reflect actual returns observed through pilot projects and prototypes;
(vi) Prepare and
update a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for each information system throughout
its life cycle. A BCA will provide a level of detail proportionate to
the size of the investment, rely onsystematic measures of mission performance,
and be consistent with the methodology described in OMB Circular No.
A-94, "Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis
of Federal Programs";
(vii) Prepare and
maintain a portfolio of major information systems that monitors investments
and prevents redundancy of existing or shared IT capabilities. The portfolio
will provide information demonstrating the impact of alternative IT
investment strategies and funding levels, identify opportunities for
sharing resources, and consider the agency's inventory of information
resources;
(viii) Ensure consistency
with Federal, agency, and bureau Enterprise architectures, demonstrating
such consistency through compliance with agency business requirements
and standards, as well as identification of milestones, as defined in
the EA;
(ix) Ensure that
improvements to existing information systems and the development of
planned information systems do not unnecessarily duplicate IT capabilities
within the same agency, from other agencies, or from the private sector;
(x) Ensure that
the selected system or process maximizes the usefulness of information,
minimizes the burden on the public, and preserves the appropriate integrity,
usability, availability, and confidentiality of information throughout
the life cycle of the information, as determined in accordance with
the PRA and the Federal Records Act. This portion must specifically
address the planning and budgeting for the information collection burden
imposed on the public as defined by 5 CFR 1320;
(xi) Establish oversight
mechanisms, consistent with Appendix III of this Circular, to evaluate
systematically and ensure the continuing security, interoperability,
and availability of systems and their data;
(xii) Ensure that
Federal information system requirements do not unnecessarily restrict
theprerogatives of state, local and tribal governments;
(xiii) Ensure that
the selected system or process facilitates accessibility under the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended.
(c) What must an
agency do as part of the control component of the capital planning process?
It must:
(i) Institute
performance measures and management processes that monitor actual performance
compared to expected results. Agencies must use a performance based
management system that provides timely information regarding the progress
of an information technology investment. The system must also measure
progress towards milestones in an independently verifiable basis, in
terms of cost, capability of the investment to meet specified requirements,
timeliness, and quality;
(ii) Establish oversight
mechanisms that require periodic review of information systems to determine
how mission requirements might have changed, and whether the information
system continues to fulfill ongoing and anticipated mission requirements.
These mechanisms must also require information regarding the future
levels of performance, interoperability, and maintenance necessary to
ensure the information system meets mission requirements cost effectively;
(iii) Ensure that
major information systems proceed in a timely fashion towards agreed-upon
milestones in an information system life cycle. Information systems
must also continue to deliver intended benefits to the agency and customers,
meet user requirements, and identify and offer security protections;
(iv) Prepare and
update a strategy that identifies and mitigates risks associated with
each information system;
(iv) Ensure that
financial management systems conform to the requirements of OMB Circular
No. A-127, "Financial Management Systems;"
(v) Provide for
the appropriate management and disposition of records in accordance
with the Federal Records Act.
(vi) Ensure that
agency EA procedures are being followed. This includes ensuring that
EA milestones are reached and documentation is updated as needed.
(d) What must an
agency do as part of the evaluation component of the capital planning
process?
It must:
(i)
Conduct post-implementation reviews of information systems and information
resource management processes to validate estimated benefits and costs,
and document effective management practices for broader use;
(ii) Evaluate
systems to ensure positive return on investment and decide whether
continuation, modification, or termination of the systems is necessary
to meet agency mission requirements.
(iii) Document
lessons learned from the post-implementation reviews. Redesign oversight
mechanisms and performance levels to incorporate acquired knowledge.
(iv) Re-assess
an investment's business case, technical compliance, and compliance
against the EA.
(v) Update the
EA and IT capital planning processes as needed.
(2) The Enterprise
Architecture
Agencies must
document and submit their initial EA to OMB. Agencies must submit
updates when significant changes to the Enterprise Architecture occur.
(a) What is
the Enterprise Architecture?
An EA is the
explicit description and documentation of the current and desired
relationships among business and management processes and information
technology. It describes the "current architecture" and
"target architecture" to include the rules and standards
and systems life cycle information to optimize and maintain the environment
which the agency wishes to create and maintain by managing its IT
portfolio. The EA must also provide a strategy that will enable the
agency to support its current state and also act as the roadmap for
transition to its target environment. These transition processes will
include an agency's capital planning and investment control processes,
agency EA planning processes, and agency systems life cycle methodologies.
The EA will define principles and goals and set direction on such
issues as the promotion of interoperability, open systems, public
access, compliance with GPEA, end user satisfaction, and IT security.
The agency must support the EA with a complete inventory of agency
information resources, including personnel, equipment, and funds devoted
to information resources management and information technology, at
an appropriate level of detail. Agencies must implement the EA consistent
with following principles:
(i)
Develop information systems that facilitate interoperability, application
portability, and scalability of electronic applications across networks
of heterogeneous hardware, software, and telecommunications platforms;
(ii) Meet information
technology needs through cost effective intra-agency and interagency
sharing, before acquiring new information technology resources; and
(iii) Establish
a level of security for all information systems that is commensurate
to the risk and magnitude of the harm resulting from the loss, misuse,
unauthorized access to, or modification of the information stored
or flowing through these systems.
(b) How do agencies
create and maintain the EA?
As part of the
EA effort, agencies must use or create an Enterprise Architecture
Framework. The Framework must document linkages between mission needs,
information content, and information technology capabilities. The
Framework must also guide both strategic and operational IRM planning.
Once a framework
is established, an agency must create the EA. In the creation of an
EA, agencies must identify and document:
(i)
Business Processes - Agencies must identify the work performed to support
its mission, vision and performance goals. Agencies must also document
change agents, such as legislation or new technologies that will drive
changes in the EA.
(ii) Information
Flow and Relationships - Agencies must analyze the information utilized
by the agency in its business processes, identifying the information
used and the movement of the information. These information flows
indicate where the information is needed and how the information is
shared to support mission functions.
(iii) Applications
- Agencies must identify, define, and organize the activities that
capture, manipulate, and manage the business information to support
business processes. The EA also describes the logical dependencies
and relationships among business activities.
(iv) Data Descriptions
and Relationships - Agencies must identify how data is created, maintained,
accessed, and used. At a high level, agencies must define the data
and describe the relationships among data elements used in the agency's
information systems.
(v) Technology
Infrastructure - Agencies must describe and identify the functional
characteristics, capabilities, and interconnections of the hardware,
software, and telecommunications.
(c) What are
the Technical Reference Model and Standards Profile?
The EA must
also include a Technical Reference Model (TRM) and Standards Profile.
(i)
The TRM identifies and describes the information services (such as database,
communications, intranet, etc.) used throughout the agency.
(ii) The Standards
Profile defines the set of IT standards that support the services
articulated in the TRM. Agencies are expected to adopt standards necessary
to support the entire EA, which must be enforced consistently throughout
the agency.
(iii) As part
of the Standards Profile, agencies must create a Security Standards
Profile that is specific to the security services specified in the
EA and covers such services as identification, authentication, and
non-repudiation; audit trail creation and analysis; access controls;
cryptography management; virus protection; fraud prevention; detection
and mitigation; and intrusion prevention and detection.
(3) How Will
Agencies Ensure Security in Information Systems?
Agencies must
incorporate security into the architecture of their information and
systems to ensure that security supports agency business operations
and that plans to fund and manage security are built into life-cycle
budgets for information systems.
(a)
To support more effective agency implementation of both agency computer
security and critical infrastructure protection programs, agencies must
implement the following:
(i)
Prioritize key systems (including those that are most critical to agency
operations);
(ii) Apply OMB
policies and, for non-national security applications, NIST guidance
to achieve adequate security commensurate with the level of risk and
magnitude of harm;
(b) Agencies
must make security's role explicit in information technology investments
and capital programming. Investments in the development of new or
the continued operation of existing informationsystems, both general
support systems and major applications must:
(i) Demonstrate
that the security controls for components, applications, and systems
are consistent with, and an integral part of, the EA of the agency;
(ii) Demonstrate
that the costs of security controls are understood and are explicitly
incorporated into the life-cycle planning of the overall system in
a manner consistent with OMB guidance for capital programming;
(iii) Incorporate
a security plan that complies with Appendix III of this Circular and
in a manner that is consistent with NIST guidance on security planning;
(iv) Demonstrate
specific methods used to ensure that risks and the potential for loss
are understood and continually assessed, that steps are taken to maintain
risk at an acceptable level, and that procedures are in place to ensure
that controls are implemented effectively and remain effective over
time;
(v) Demonstrate
specific methods used to ensure that the security controls are commensurate
with the risk and magnitude of harm that may result from the loss,
misuse, or unauthorized access to or modification of the system itself
or the information it manages;
(vi) Identify
additional security controls that are necessary to minimize risk to
and potential loss from those systems that promote or permit public
access, other externally accessible systems, and those systems that
are interconnected with systems over which program officials have
little or no control;
(vii) Deploy
effective security controls and authentication tools consistent with
the protection of privacy, such as public-key based digital signatures,
for those systems that promote or permit public access;
(viii) Ensure
that the handling of personal information is consistent with relevant
government-wide and agency policies;
(ix) Describe
each occasion the agency decides to employ standards and guidance
that are more stringent than those promulgated by NIST to ensure the
use of risk-based cost-effective security controls for non-national
security applications;
(c) OMB will
consider for new or continued funding only those system investments
that satisfy these criteria. New information technology investments
must demonstrate that existing agency systems also meet these criteria
in order to qualify for funding.
(4) How Will
Agencies Acquire Information Technology?
Agencies
must:
(a)
Make use of adequate competition, allocate risk between government and
contractor, and maximize return on investment when acquiring information
technology;
(b) Structure
major information systems into useful segments with a narrow scope
and brief duration. This should reduce risk, promote flexibility and
interoperability, increase accountability, and better match mission
need with current technology and market conditions;
(c) Acquire off-the-shelf
software from commercial sources, unless the cost effectiveness of
developing custom software is clear and has been documented through
pilot projects or prototypes; and
(d) Ensure accessibility
of acquired information technology pursuant to the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended (Pub. Law 105-220, 29 U.S.C.794d).
9.
Assignment of Responsibilities:
- All Federal Agencies.
The head of each agency must:
- Have primary
responsibility for managing agency information resources;
- Ensure that
the agency implements appropriately all of the information policies,
principles, standards, guidelines, rules, and regulations prescribed
by OMB;
- Appoint a Chief
Information Officer, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(a), who must report
directly to the agency head to carry out the responsibilities of the
agencies listed in the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3506), the
Clinger Cohen Act (40 U.S.C. 1425(b) & (c)), as well as Executive
Order 13011. The head of the agency must consult with the Director
of OMB prior to appointing a Chief Information Officer, and will advise
the Director on matters regarding the authority, responsibilities,
and organizational resources of the Chief Information Officer. For
purposes of this paragraph, military departments and the Office of
the Secretary of Defense may each appoint one official. The Chief
Information Officer must, among other things:
(a)
Be an active participant during all agency strategic management activities,
including the development, implementation, and maintenance of agency
strategic and operational plans;
(b) Advise
the agency head on information resource implications of strategic
planning decisions;
(c) Advise the
agency head on the design, development, and implementation of information
resources.
(i)
Monitor and evaluate the performance of information resource investments
through a capital planning and investment control process, and advise
the agency head on whether to continue, modify, or terminate a program
or project;
(ii) Advise
the agency head on budgetary implications of information resource
decisions; and
(d) Be an active
participant throughout the annual agency budget process in establishing
investment priorities for agency information resources;
- Direct the Chief
Information Officer to monitor agency compliance with the policies,
procedures, and guidance in this Circular. Acting as an ombudsman,
the Chief Information Officer must consider alleged instances of agency
failure to comply with this Circular, and recommend or take appropriate
corrective action. The Chief Information Officer will report instances
of alleged failure and their resolution annually to the Director of
OMB, by February 1st of each year.
- Develop internal
agency information policies and procedures and oversee, evaluate,
and otherwise periodically review agency information resources management
activities for conformity with the policies set forth in this Circular;
- Develop agency
policies and procedures that provide for timely acquisition of required
information technology;
- Maintain the
following, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3506(b)(4)
and 3511) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(g)): an
inventory of the agency's major information systems, holdings, and
dissemination products; an agency information locator service; a description
of the agency's major information and record locator systems; an inventory
of the agency's other information resources, such as personnel and
funding (at the level of detail that the agency determines is most
appropriate for its use in managing the agency's information resources);
and a handbook for persons to obtain public information from the agency
pursuant to these Acts.
- Implement and
enforce applicable records management policies and procedures, including
requirements for archiving information maintained in electronic format,
particularly in the planning, design and operation of information
systems.
- Identify to
the Director of OMB any statutory, regulatory, and other impediments
to efficient management of Federal information resources, and recommend
to the Director legislation, policies, procedures, and other guidance
to improve such management;
- Assist OMB in
the performance of its functions under the PRA, including making services,
personnel, and facilities available to OMB for this purpose to the
extent practicable;
- Ensure that
the agency:
(a) cooperates
with other agencies in the use of information technology to improve
the productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency of Federal programs;
(b) promotes
a coordinated, interoperable, secure, and shared government wide infrastructure
that is provided and supported by a diversity of private sector suppliers;
and
(c) develops a
well-trained corps of information resource professionals.
- Use
the guidance provided in OMB Circular A-11, "Planning, Budgeting,
and Acquisition of Fixed Assets," to promote effective and efficient
capital planning within the organization;
- Ensure that
the agency provides budget data pertaining to information resources
to OMB, consistent with the requirements of OMB Circular A-11,
- Ensure, to the
extent reasonable, that in the design of information systems with
the purpose of disseminating information to the public, an index of
information disseminated by the system will be included in the directory
created by the Superintendent of Documents pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 4101.(Nothing
in this paragraph authorizes the dissemination of information to the
public unless otherwise authorized.)
- Permit, to the
extent practicable, the use of one agency's contract by another agency
or the award of multi-agency contracts, provided the action is within
the scope of the contract and consistent with OMB guidance; and
- As designated
by the Director of OMB, act as executive agent for the government-wide
acquisition of information technology.
- Department
of State. The Secretary of State must:
- Advise the
Director of OMB on the development of United States positions and
policies on international information policy and technology issues
affecting Federal government activities and the development of international
information technology standards; and
- Be responsible
for liaison, consultation, and negotiation with foreign governments
and intergovernmental organizations on all matters related to information
resources management, including federal information technology.
The Secretary must also ensure, in consultation with the Secretary
of Commerce, that the United States is represented in the development
of international standards and recommendations affecting information
technology. These responsibilities may also require the Secretary
to consult, as appropriate, with affected domestic agencies, organizations,
and other members of the public.
- Department of
Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce must:
- Develop and
issue Federal Information Processing Standards and guidelines necessary
to ensure the efficient and effective acquisition, management, security,
and use of information technology, whiletaking into consideration
the recommendations of the agencies and the CIO Council;
- Advise the
Director of OMB on the development of policies relating to the procurement
and management of Federal telecommunications resources;
- Provide OMB
and the agencies with scientific and technical advisory services
relating to the development and use of information technology;
- Conduct studies
and evaluations concerning telecommunications technology, and concerning
the improvement, expansion, testing, operation, and use of Federal
telecommunications systems, and advise the Director of OMB and appropriate
agencies of the recommendations that result from such studies;
- Develop, in
consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of OMB,
plans, policies, and programs relating to international telecommunications
issues affecting government information activities;
- Identify needs
for standardization of telecommunications and information processing
technology, and develop standards, in consultation with the Secretary
of Defense and the Administrator of General Services, to ensure
efficient application of such technology;
- Ensure that
the Federal Government is represented in the development of national
and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, international
information technology standards, and advise the Director of OMB
on such activities.
- Department of
Defense. The Secretary of Defense will develop, in consultation with
the Administrator of General Services, uniform Federal telecommunications
standards and guidelines to ensure national security, emergency preparedness,
and continuity of government.
- General Services
Administration. The Administrator of General Services must:
- Continue to
manage the FTS2001 program and coordinate the follow-up to that
program, on behalf of and with the advice of agencies;
- Develop, maintain,
and disseminate for the use of the Federal community (as requested
by OMB or the agencies) recommended methods and strategies for the
development and acquisition of information technology;
- Conduct and
manage outreach programs in cooperation with agency managers;
- Be a liaison
on information resources management (including Federal information
technology) with State and local governments. GSA must also be a
liaison with non-governmental international organizations, subject
to prior consultation with the Secretary of State to ensure consistency
with the overall United States foreign policy objectives;
- Support the
activities of the Secretary of State for liaison, consultation,
and negotiation with intergovernmental organizations on information
resource management matters;
- Provide support
and assistance to the CIO Council and the Information Technology
Resources Board.
- Manage the
Information Technology Fund in accordance with the Federal Property
and Administrative Services Act, as amended;
- Office of Personnel
Management. The Director, Office of Personnel Management, will:
- Develop and
conduct training programs for Federal personnel on information resources
management, including end-user computing;
- Evaluate periodically
future personnel management and staffing requirements for Federal
information resources management;
- Establish
personnel security policies and develop training programs for Federal
personnel associated with the design, operation, or maintenance
of information systems.
- National Archives
and Records Administration. The Archivist of the United States will:
- Administer
the Federal records management program in accordance with the National
Archives and Records Act;
- Assist the
Director of OMB in developing standards and guidelines relating
to the records management program.
- Office of Management
and Budget. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget will:
- Provide overall
leadership and coordination of Federal information resources management
within the executive branch;
- Serve as the
President's principal adviser on procurement and management of Federal
telecommunications systems, and develop and establish policies for
procurement and management of such systems;
- Issue policies,
procedures, and guidelines to assist agencies in achieving integrated,
effective, and efficient information resources management;
- Initiate and
review proposals for changes in legislation, regulations, and agency
rocedures to improve Federal information resources management;
- Review and
approve or disapprove agency proposals for collection of information
from the public, as defined by 5 CFR 1320.3;
- Develop and
maintain a Governmentwide strategic plan for information resources
management.
- Evaluate agencies'
information resources management and identify cross-cutting information
policy issues through the review of agency information programs,
information collection budgets, information technology acquisition
plans, fiscal budgets, and by other means;
- Provide policy
oversight for the Federal records management function conducted
by the National Archives and Records Administration, coordinate
records management policies and programs with other information
activities, and review compliance by agencies with records management
requirements;
- Review agencies'
policies, practices, and programs pertaining to the security, protection,
sharing, and disclosure of information, in order to ensure compliance,
with respect to privacy and security, with the Privacy Act, the
Freedom of Information Act, the Computer Security Act, the GPEA,
and related statutes;
- Review proposed
U.S. Government Position and Policy statements on international
issues affecting Federal Government information activities, and
advise the Secretary of State as to their consistency with Federal
information resources management policy.
- Coordinate
the development and review by the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs of policy associated with Federal procurement and acquisition
of information technology with the Office of Federal Procurement
Policy, and policies regarding management of financial management
systems with the Office of Federal Financial Management.
- Evaluate agency
information resources management practices and programs and, as
part of the budget process, oversee agency capital planning and
investment control processes to analyze, track, and evaluate the
risks and results of major capital investments in information systems;
- Notify an
agency if OMB believes that a major information system project requires
outside assistance;
- Provide guidance
on the implementation of the Clinger-Cohen Act and on the management
of information resources to the executive agencies, to the CIO Council,
and to the Information Technology Resources Board; and
- Designate
one or more heads of executive agencies as executive agent for government-wide
acquisitions of information technology.
10.
Oversight:
- The Director
of OMB will use information technology planning reviews, fiscal budget
reviews, information collection budget reviews, management reviews,
and such other measures as the Director deems necessary to evaluate
the adequacy and efficiency of each agency's information resources management
and compliance with this Circular.
- The Director of
OMB may, consistent with statute and upon written request of an agency,
grant a waiver from particular requirements of this Circular. Requests
for waivers must detail the reasons why a particular waiver is sought,
identify the duration of the waiver sought, and include a plan for the
prompt and orderly transition to full compliance with the requirements
of this Circular. Notice of each waiver request must be published promptly
by the agency in the Federal Register, with a copy of the waiver request
made available to the public on request.
11.
Effectiveness: This Circular is effective upon issuance. Nothing in
this Circular will be construed to confer a private right of action on
any person.
12.
Inquiries: All questions or inquiries should be addressed to the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, D.C. 20503. Telephone: (202) 395-3785.
13.
Sunset Review Date: OMB will review this Circular three years from
the date of issuance to ascertain its effectiveness.
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