CMS SPARC

Delmock Technologies, Inc.

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DTI’s IT approach is comprised of industry best-practices that include CMMI, ITILv3, and PMBOK. DTI provides a disciplined approach to migrate customer solution requirements through our development and testing process to produce software applications that compliment CMS’ XLT framework. Developing solutions that are needed to bridge COTS products within legacy systems requires our disciplined approach to various development methods, such as Agile, coupled with a sensitivity to identifying solutions through a FIT/GAP analysis to the current operating model.

For instance, DTI’s proven Agile based methodology incorporates best practices for full lifecycle software development, architecture, and operations support. DTI’s Agile development base releases on requirements defined at a high level and then refine through an iterative process, with extensive engagement and feedback from stakeholders.

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Available Service Offerings:

In order to maintain the discipline of on-time and on-budget, our team has pushed out additional functionality and new requirements for major changes in releases, prioritize critical needs and end-user functionality. Projects are decomposed into a foundational release followed by successive modular releases that deliver capability to users over a defined lifecycle. DTI has collected Agile metrics (Product/Release/Sprint Burndown charts, velocity tracking) through the lifecycle of the projects to communicate the team’s productivity, efficiency and quality to project stakeholders.

DTI collaborates with client program stakeholders in preparing Project Management Plans (PMPs) that address all technical and management goals, organization, processes, Risk Management, Quality Assurance (QA), and Subcontractor Management (SM) for all project lifecycle phases including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control and closeout.

Our staff of subject-matter-experts identify project goals, objectives, risks, and clear measurable success factors; significant assumptions, constraints and dependencies; explore alternatives; and develop high-level architectural solution frameworks and associated content. Support lifecycle Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) activities and initiatives including proposing, evaluating, comparing, prioritizing, selecting and monitoring capital investments including projects for business change and information systems. DTI also bring to bear tailored Project Management Office (PMO) processes and required infrastructure.

DTI has extensive experience in requirements management including development, documentation, analysis, and testing. Our professional staff possesses the requirements management knowledge which guides planning, definition, analysis, document preparation, configuration management and traceability activities. Our SMEs conduct interviews, lead requirements focus groups, workshops with user representatives, value assessments of functional requirements and generate impact analyses, for affected systems, and alternative design scenarios. We ensure compliance traceability back to requirements in accordance with Section 508 accessibility requirements. QA testers and developers use Rational Requisite Pro and Rational ClearCase requirements management, tools to effectively track and manage system-wide requirements. Our experts prioritize defects for resolution, deploying high-priority risks solutions swiftly and effectively, while managing low-risk defects. Our QA professionals conduct, system requirements review (SRR), technical change assessment (TCA), and configuration control board (CCB) meetings to support the mission of clients.

DTI has over a decade of experience designing and developing software applications and using robust CMMI-based technical solutions and repeatable best practices with frameworks including ISO/IEC 9126, .NET, J2EE, Struts, Agile Software Development Waterfall, V-model, iterative and Agile models, paired programming and Extreme Programming (XP) techniques.

We employ CMMI Level 3 certified software life-cycle methodology supported by our ISO 9001:2000 management process and procedures to ensure the development of a quality software product, that is completed on time, within budget and to the customer’s satisfaction. Our design and development approach applies service-oriented principles to maximize code/service reusability and minimize costs.

Design/Software Services Experience

Our system design process creates the products of the initial system design to meet the system level requirements developed in the System Requirements Definition Process. SMEs are highly skilled in the identification of major components, objects and functions in the software design, control flow, exception processing, and definition of external inputs and outputs. See Task – 0.

Database Services Experience

Our team of experienced Database Developers responsible for ensuring that best practices are utilized at the time of design and during all subsequent changes throughout the XLC. We deliver comprehensive database services and offer highly skilled technical staff with the requisite enterprise experience to support data services.

Our staff identifies task/data relationships; define constraints and potential future changes; conduct business analysis; creates conceptual, logical and physical database designs and associated data models identifying local views of the data; formulate entities and specified relationships and added descriptive attributes; creates business rules; consolidates local views and design perspectives.

System Integration Services Experience

DTI’s system integration services include the ability to accelerate new service and technology deployments using predictive planning while increasing security and operational integrity. Our professionals offer experience in conducting system integration efforts, (100+ software applications and 70 database designs in Federal IT environment).

DTI conducts product integration; reviews interface management, system component integration readiness, product component assembly, and evaluation; packaging, delivery, design and testing. DTI specializes the in on-time delivery of work products to include: Product Integration Strategy; Product Integration Environment, System Design Integration Plan and Procedures.

DTI’s developers have extensive experience building, testing, delivering and maintaining integrated information applications systems (software solutions) to support modernization and evolving production environments. Our teams of professional developers complete all necessary technical design, programming, development, testing, scripting, configuring/customizing of application modules as required to develop and implement the design plans and specifications. They recommend modifications and performance enhancements to system software, hardware platforms, and support utilities. SMEs develop related support documentation for end-users, IT Service Desk, and all related O&M and system administration. DTI also conducts software services which include completing functional and system designs.

Design Software Services Experience

Our developers designed software services for 100 new and 25 existing software applications, using coding standards for Application Messaging and Directory Access Services (AMDAS), EDAS, SSO, and EAIB software applications. Developed system and application source code (software module and software unit) and executable code in accordance with Treasury coding standard and including internal and external interfaces; unit and software (string) integration into the ACA PMO, PPI-GOV and EOPS targeted development environment. Conducted Software Development Testing within the development environment. Identified, tracked, reported and resolved software defects and conducted regression testing as required. Created and updated operating documentation and software design documentation to reflect changes resulting from testing. Ensured format and/or configure source code was compliant with Rational ClearCase system. Used Java, J2EE, AJAC, JBOSS, ASP.NET, XML, XACML, and Perl programming language and associated compilers to support software coding and generation of executable code.

Database Services Experience

For 40 new and 30 existing database applications, deployed database applications such as CDS, SAAS, and ES to PPI-GOV and EOPS environment. Database services included the following; created initial performance parameters and object allocation; access control mechanisms (e.g., scripts implementing roles, privileges, and permissions); database interfaces, input/output data feeds, and data preparation (e.g., data cleansing and data conversion); data Extraction, Transformation and Load (ETL); and operational scripts and code supporting archival and backup. Used Microsoft Entity Framework Designer, First SQL+, Database Design Pattern Framework database tools to support database development effort, Prepared Updated Logical and Physical Designs and Data Models, Physical Database Schema, Operational Scripts and Archival and Backup. Our DBAs perform the following functions listed below:

System Integration Services Experience

DTI has extensive experience managing large, complex systems and integrated applications that have evolved over many years and require significant efforts to both operate and modernize simultaneously. A key factor in sustaining a high level of growth while continuing to meet mission needs is the ability to integrate new technologies into an existing facility without impacting operational requirements and continuity of services. Team DTI has demonstrated experience implementing change on multiple projects, while doing no harm to the continuity of services. DTI provided system development integration on 100+ software applications and 70 database designs to ensure proper integration and interoperability using the system integration tools (eTXIntegrator, ActiveEdge and Adeptia Integration Suite). DTI performed the key activities, including a review of interface descriptions for completeness, the readiness of system components for integration, assembled product components; evaluated assembled product components; and packaged and delivered product or product components to support further design and testing activities. DTI supported the development of the following work products: Product Integration Strategy; System Development Integration Plan and Procedures. For example, DTI’s test team was responsible for prototyping, engineering, piloting, and deploying SSO application and used the standardized build promotion process to progressively introduce the application into the test environment ahead of production schedule while ensuring no anomalies occurred during the soak in period.

System Regression Testing Experience

DTI understands the criticality of expected outcomes with definite inputs. DTI performs selective re- testing of business applications to validate that modifications do not cause unintended functional or data results and that the application still complies with the requirements. DTI conducted Regression Test planning, execution and reporting to verify system functionality for business applications such as ACA PMO, PPI-GOV, EOPS organizations multiple systems and their integration with the Middleware infrastructure into an overall integrated system. DTI uses the appropriate existing approved test plan to run the changed system against the original test cases, specifications and procedures and regression testing verification matrix (RTVM). During testing, product owners attend daily regression testing meetings. DTI provide daily system regression testing results; resolve identified defects and conduct additional regression testing until the change successfully past testing; and prepare final summary report providing final system results, issues, recommendations and lessons learned.

Performance & Stress Testing Experience

As part of the implementation tests, DTI executed performance (capacity and throughput) and stress testing (Load) regarding central processing unit (CPU) utilization, network utilization, and memory and storage capacities on business applications and/or infrastructure. DTI conducted planning, execution and reporting to assess performance requirements; SLA, capacity and throughput of business applications in processing time; CPU utilization; network utilization; and memory and storage capacities relative to the expected normal user and processing load and identify bottlenecks at the application, database, operating system (OS) and/or network levels using white box and black box testing techniques. Specific performance load and stress test include database volumes; transaction volumes; load balancing; batch transaction volumes; batch processing windows and dependencies; response time; network load considerations and system interfaces and printing.

DTI completes test planning including identifying functions/interfaces, required test data inputs; assess output based on the requirements, validating the test plan/test cases and procedures with test matrices linking to business application and SLA requirements. DTI establishes the environment using tools such as ab, siege, httperf, Java Grinder load tool, OpenSTA and conduct test cases per the approved test plan. DTI provides daily defects reports; assessed resolved software defects, conduct regression testing; and prepare final software functional test summary report providing system results, recommendations and lessons learned.

End-to-End Integration Testing Experience

To ensure readiness of the full system, DTI conducts End-to-End (E2E) Integration testing of all the business application’s access or touchpoints, and data, across multiple business applications, and systems, front to back (horizontal) and top to bottom (vertical), to ensure business processes are successfully completed. DTI conducts E2E Integration Testing planning, execution and reporting to confirm over 125 business applications and 10 systems function across the infrastructure.

This ensures identification of the systems, business applications and associated external interfaces; the test plan and test cases, specifications and procedures with test matrices linking test cases to business applications and systems functional/interface requirements using tools such as WebLoad, NeoLoad, and JMeter performance testing, Micro Focus, Load Runner, Rational Performance Tester, QA Load, Rational Robot, Silk Test, WinRunner Test Director, Bugzilla, and OpenSTA. DTI provided daily E2E defects reports; resolved defects and conducted required regression testing; and prepared summary a report providing final results.

Acceptance Testing Experience

DTI coordinates/support, acceptance testing both from a user’s perspective (UAT) as well as a system’s point of view. UAT is performed against the Business Product/Code based on the user’s requirements and system acceptability criteria. Test planning includes identifying the systems, business applications, and associated external interfaces and reviewing/validating the test plans and test cases specifications. DTI completes test coordination to verify operational site readiness to support acceptance test. DTI used various test tools such as Robot Framework, Load Runner, QA Load, Rational Robot, Silk Test, WinRunner Test Director and OpenSTA to conduct AT. DTI provide daily AT defects reports, conduct failure analysis, regression testing, and prepare final AT Summary Report of final results.

Testing Coordination Experience

DTI is well versed in managing large teams working concurrently on various complex systems including supervising multivendor teams. DTI collaborate and conduct customer testing coordination for IRS’ projects including ACA/AIR, ACA Webmethods, ACA Weblogic, SAS, and Middleware Development/O&M. Testing Coordination support spans our 15-year history which has been demonstrated over 35 testing support projects. DTI support the EOPS customer in controlling and coordinating of testing products from 35 contractors supporting the Middleware infrastructure. DTI use SMEs to ensure that 85 software and database products were adequately tested. We develop, review and validate the Test Management Plan that provides the approach and methodology for coordinating the testing activities including use of robust communication and project management techniques and tools such as SharePoint, video conferencing, and Go-To meeting as well as Agile project management tools such as Version One Agile Management Project.

DTI’s experienced IT security teams provide expert knowledge to ensure that an effective framework of security controls is implemented and maintained on each project to protect the organization’s assets and produce security solutions that are consistent with current Federal, NIAMS policies, regulations and laws including NIST Risk Management Framework (NIST SP 800-37), NIST 800-53/53A Rev4, and Federal Risk and Authorization Program (FedRAMP). We conduct a comprehensive security assessment of General Support Systems (GSSs) and Major Application (MA) for our Federal Government clients including; identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities using alternate or compensating controls.

DTI security test team monitors, tests, and troubleshoots IA software issues, and when required, take appropriate action to report incidents as required by regulation and mitigate any adverse impacts to ensure timely response to security incidents. Our Security SMEs have implemented thousands of patches including IA vulnerability alerts vulnerability bulletins and technical advisories for client designated operating systems; support advanced computing, network, or enclave environments, applying extensive knowledge of a wide range of IA concepts, practices and procedures to ensure the secure integration and operation of all systems. DTI SMEs uses a centralized cybersecurity asset management tool, develops Authorization to Operate (ATO) packages and support customers through the entire ATO process.

Our use of ISO, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), PMBOK, and CMMI methodologies provide reliable results through the application of standard, documented quality processes, and procedures that simultaneously promote Continuous Process Improvement (CPI). DTI has extensive experience supporting life cycle processes including documentation, configuration management, QA, Verification, Validation, joint review, audit, and problem resolution process. Our ISO quality management infrastructure follows international standards to ensure that our processes are consistent, repeatable, effective, and result in customer satisfaction.

We define roles and responsibilities at all levels; establish process guidelines, tools, and techniques for process control, continual process improvement, QA, change and risk management. Our change and risk management methodology accommodate best practices identified by ISO, ITIL, and CMMI. Our teams of SMEs have conducted 35 ELC assessments of management, engineering, integration, testing and operations and associated infrastructure, processes and tools including concept documentation evaluation, requirements analysis, traceability analysis, source code and documentation evaluation, interface analysis, criticality analysis, hazard analysis, security analysis, risk analysis governance analysis and security compliance for Federal government customers’ services. We conduct independent assessments using various techniques including system/document reviews, interviews, testing, demonstrations and walkthroughs. Develop, review and validate detailed technical and management IV&V audit plans. Our professional staff ends every IV&V service with a customer brief on results and offered improvement recommendations.

We reduced O&M costs by 10% through resource optimization and continuous improvements saving $1M for our Internal Revenue Service customer. Our approach leverages successful experiences, lessons learned, continuous quality improvements, while applying industry standards (ITIL, CMMI, ISO, etc.) combined with a skilled team that has CMS experience supporting legacy and new systems.

ENHANCE, MAINTAIN, AND SUSTAIN CMS ENVIRONMENT (INNOVATION)

Application monitoring and alerting: We propose innovative approaches for automated monitoring and alerting of the CMS application by incorporating alerting procedures into the code. The benefit of this approach is that problems are proactively discovered before the CMS end users experience or reports them. For all new change requests and enhancements, we will consider the application monitoring, thresholds, alerting requirements as early as the Software requirements/development stage and incorporate these checks into code review. We will use the existing instrumentation and Tivoli Enterprise Console (TEC) alert mechanism to integrate application monitoring and alerting.

Predictive analytics for maintaining high availability and reliability: We propose predictive analytics for preventing expensive outages. Our approach includes correlation of business, technical, and historical CMS events/trends to predict potential issues by correlation of business issues (performance, slowness, or outages) and historical trends. The benefits include improved operational efficiency of the applications, reduced tickets, and minimized MTTR/increased MTBF, resulting in high availability.

Maintenance Delivery Services Experience

Our staff of professionals perform the required maintenance modifications, installations, configurations, and post implementation testing and training to fully support the maintenance delivery release. DTI develops, reviews and validates Release Plans, Release Notes, and After-Action Release Report, and ensures compliance with the HHS standards in accordance with maintenance processes, procedures, and release schedules.

User Documentation Services Experience

DTI coordinates, develops, reviews, validates and delivers user documentation in the form of electronic or hardcopy including; online help, online documentation, and context-sensitive help. DTI coordinated with client service organizations, other support contractors, and users to ensure that the user documentation satisfies the requirement.

User Training Services Experience

DTI performs user training utilizing a variety of methods including classroom, web based, guided self-study and formalized on-the-job mentoring. Our staff conducts all required training activities: identification of training goals and requirements; selection of the instructional delivery system and training sources, course and training materials development; training site selection; instructor preparation and training delivery; post-course evaluation and feedback collection and analysis; training record development; and recommended training modifications.

DTI develops management and operations portals, dashboards and help desk system solutions to fully support lifecycle service desk and on-line user-end user data requests for 1M+ users. DTI performs client COTS system requirements identification and analysis, source identification, selection system implementation, testing and O&M. DTI’s Service Technicians performed all service desk operations including data request entry, tracking, end-user request report summary generation and closure.