Information Technology Software and Infrastructure Service Agreements – 12RR005IT000
- Directorate:
- Information Technology
- Program Area:
- Information Technology
- Responsible Postal Official:
- Start Date:
- 02-21-2012
- Estimated Report Date:
AUDIT OVERVIEW
The Postal Service is committed to creating and maintaining a cost-effective Information Technology (IT) environment to safeguard the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of Postal Service information. This includes the acquisition of software, hardware, and services to provide the products and services that meet IT standards for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Postal Service infrastructure. Acquisition activities should ensure that the Postal Service could negotiate cost beneficial IT software and infrastructure service agreements by consolidating requirements into advantageous solicitation. The IT Category Management Center (CMC) is responsible for creating and maintaining national agreements for the Postal Service covering computer hardware, software, IT services, and retail systems. The Postal Service requires that all systems and services use standards to leverage the benefits of faster deployment and efficient development and operation.
I really suggest the time would be better spent doing an inventory audit, and selling what is not needed like old equipment and such.
Is this IT equipment?
Hope this all gets sorted out Thanks
I think its great everything is being standardised.
However I really suggest the time would be better spent doing an inventory audit, and selling what is not needed like old equipment and such.
Then…do standardization.
Otherwise you end up doing standardization twice.
Oh and the money saved by auditing and sale of old equipment would most likely cover the cost of standardization.
Old equipment! in what area, do you have specifics?
What do you mean with standrddization? Equipment, software or both?
Is this over yet? Started in feb but is it still going on? Congrats on the idea.
We are still sorting the data collected. Any information that you may add will be helpful. Thanks.
I think it is very interesting how it has come under an audit. But does efficiency need to be improved?
Are there opportunities for a cost savings by eliminating redundancy in the existing IT service agreements?
Are there opportunities for a cost savings through consolidation and/or bringing IT services in house?
How should the Postal Service go about achieving that?
So what exactly ARE the IT standards being examined? One need only look at applications recently deployed based on the SAP framework (LMS, eHRSSC Forms, most other HR apps) to see that these “standards” are set pretty low and do not adequately consider the needs of the targeted users.
I couldn’t agree more. None of the SAP programs I’ve used are intuitive or user-friendly in any way. They may have been rushed to development faster, and they may meet whatever minimum standards have been set; but operation of the SAP programs in the field is never efficient and it can be down-right frustrating.
USPS paid SAP $12.8 million in FY-11. For that kind of money, we should be able to get a much better product and expect much higher standards.
SAP in general is not user friendly. This has been proven. PeopleSoft is more user friendly.
GRAY HAIR. Hire some young people! 35 & under. I see new carrier’s who can run circles around the dinosurs, but the won’t leave, and they won’t admit they’ve got no clue how to make you IT systems work.
Retire the senior staff. Problems solved.
No wonder Northrupp Grumman’s suing you guys.
I think this is a great Idea. The post office must rearrange it’s system for faster shipping for deployment. This will be very beneficial for all in the long run.
great idea that the postal service requires that all systems and services using standards! Its a must have for a fast deployment! thanks for the post!
I am the responsible audit manager. I emphasize that we plan coordinate with information technology management to define the criteria we will use to identify specific opportunities for improvements in effectiveness and efficiency regarding information technology maintenance and support agreements. Please feel free to comment within the forum if you are aware of specific instances of fraud, waste, or abuse regarding information technology software and infrastructure maintenance support. If you are not comfortable posting your comments within the forum, then I encourage you to call our hotline phone number, 1-888-877-7644. Please mention my name and project number 12RR005IT000. Thank you and I look forward to our dialogue.
intresting