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Updates





Reemployment Assistance Modernization 2022

Reemployment Assistance Modernization May 2022

Feb 16, 2023
  • As Cloud Migration project includes transitioning the System from operating on hardware stored on-premise to a cloud-based environment to ensure all aspects of the System are available to users during periods of high demand for continuous claims processing, including both web-based and call center services. 
    • The Department is migrating various components of the System into a cloud-hosted environment, including files, databases, applications, and environment infrastructure. The updates shown below are as of this reporting period:
      • File migration: Completed in May 2022
      • Database migration: Completed in May 2022
      • Application migration: Migration activities are ongoing. An anticipated completion date will be provided in the next reporting period.
      • Environment Infrastructure migration:
        • Test environment: Complete in May 2022
        • Pre-production environment: In progress and anticipated to be complete in July 2022.
        • Production environment: Not started
      • This reporting period, the Department executed a contract with OpenText Exstream software, which is a communications management software that integrates data across the System. This supports the migration of data and applications currently stored on-premises into a cloud-hosted environment. Migrating these elements into a cloud-hosted environment supports System scalability and availability.
      • The Department is reviewing for compliance a draft of the proposed contract amendment for the Digital Appeals Recording Solution (DARS), which includes the requirement to migrate the technology from an on-premise hosted environment to a cloud-hosted environment. DARS enables the Department to record appeals hearings, which provides due process to employers, third-party administrators, and claimants who have filed an appeal on a Reemployment Assistance claim.
      • The conversion of the existing Reemployment Assistance Contact Center solution into a cloud-hosted environment is ongoing. Testing was initiated during this reporting period and will take place into the next reporting period, with an anticipated go-live date in late June or early July.
    • The Cloud Application Performance Management project includes utilizing a software tool that provides visibility into key System performance indicators, such as numbers of concurrent users, for System monitoring. The tool also allows the Department to set defined thresholds for performance and receive notification if remedial actions are needed to ensure maintain System performance and prevent System downtime.
      • No change from the previous reporting period. This project is currently forecast to start in July 2022.
    • The SDLC DevOps project includes improving documentation for the System, including application design documentation, artifacts, and dataflow diagrams. This helps establish a process that sets a standard for maintaining System documentation and planning the deployment of System enhancements that align and prioritize Reemployment Assistance program requirements with the System’s functionality.
      • The Department is interviewing several candidates for the DevOps Engineer position, which will support integration of the DevOps environment with the Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System.
      • The Department is working with the ServiceNow vendor to integrate this software with the new DevOps environment. ServiceNow will serve as a repository for System requirements. Integration of these software tools will sync the System’s testing environment and cross-reference requirements with test results. It will also develop an audit trail that can be used to reference changes made to the System over time.
    • The .NET and ORM Upgrade project is designed to ensure the Department’s .NET framework and Object Relational Mapping (ORM) software receive security fixes, updates, and technical support that align with industry standards. The .NET framework is a platform that is used to create and run software applications. ORM software promotes more efficient System development by translating low-level coding across tables that store data.
      • The Reemployment Claims and Benefits Information System application’s .NET framework has been upgraded to the latest available version and is scheduled to deploy in early June.
      • The Reemployment Claims and Benefits Information System application’s ORM software is being updated from version 3.5 to version 5.8. In this reporting period, the testing plan for upgrading the LLBLGEN layer, which connects the database and the System, is being revised to ensure continuity of System operations, given the magnitude of the upgrade. The upgrade, which includes 66 applications, will be deployed in phases. Deployment of these applications within the LLBLGEN layer is forecasted to be complete in October 2022.
    • The Rules Engine project includes utilizing a software tool that serves as a separate infrastructure environment for managing and executing business rules that govern how Reemployment Assistance claims are processed. Business rules that are currently operating within the System will be moved to the rules engine. By using a rules engine to manage and operate business rules, specifically those rules that are updated periodically to accommodate changes in state or federal law, the Department gains staff efficiency and helps support System performance. A rules engine is more user-friendly and doesn’t require System code changes, which means information technology staff can be repurposed for larger, more complex System enhancements and business rule changes can be deployed faster. Additionally, because the rules engine operates in a separate infrastructure environment, it allows for increased System performance.
      • This reporting period, the Department completed its effort to develop preliminary requirements for this project. Department staff began participating in workshops facilitated by the System and Software Integration vendor to identify and catalog detailed technical requirements for the modernized System. These requirements will be used to develop a scope of work for business rules engine, including services required by a prospective vendor to ensure interoperability.
      • The Department has identified four areas of focus for business rules that will be migrated to the business rules engine; however, further refinement activities are underway to determine a specific list of rules that will be migrated to the business rules engine.
    • The SOA and API Layer project will help promote a more efficient System by creating a layer between various components of the System that serves as the messenger for all data exchanges. This layer helps prevent a downturn in System performance by offloading demand on the System.
      • This reporting period, the Department completed its effort to develop preliminary requirements for this project. Department staff began participating in workshops facilitated by the System and Software Integration vendor to identify and catalog detailed technical requirements for the modernized System. These requirements will be used to develop a scope of work for an integration platform, including services required by a prospective vendor to ensure interoperability.
    • The Reemployment Assistance Help Center project created a front-end website that serves as a one-stop shop for System users to get answers to frequently asked questions, view information about their claim, submit inquiries to the Department for assistance, and submit information to the Department that facilitate claims processing.
      • This project was completed in December 2021. The Reemployment Assistance Help Center will undergo additional enhancements through continuous modernization efforts to improve internal workflows that ensure users’ claims are processed timely. 
    • The Strategic Planning Office project equips the Department with standards, governance, and project management services for the Reemployment Assistance Modernization Program, and oversees the Program’s scope, schedule, and budget to promote accountability and alignment with Department priorities.
      • The Strategic Planning Office (SPO) continues to provide overall Program and project management support.
      • The SPO continues to work with project managers to adopt ServiceNow to manage project budgets and monthly spending. In the next reporting period, project managers will fully manage project budgets and monthly spending using ServiceNow.
    • The Independent Verification and Validation project includes leveraging an independent third-party consultant to provide objective and proactive risk identification and assessment to the Department. Observations and risks identified by the consultant are used by the Department to implement the Reemployment Assistance Modernization Program and any necessary mitigating strategies.
      • IV&V continues to attend various Department meetings to support Program and project oversight.
    • The System and Software Integration project includes leveraging the expertise of a third-party services provider with experience in strategic planning, System design, System development, and System integration for large multi-component system modernization efforts to ensure the Department’s various modernization projects work as intended to deliver an enhanced user experience.
      • This reporting period, the System and Software Integration (SSI) vendor began reviewing technical artifacts provided by the Department and attending various project meetings for projects that have interdependency with the SSI project.
      • The SSI vendor also initiated hosting workshops with the Department to identify both existing and future state technical requirements to support the Modernization Program. These requirements, in addition to the business requirements being developed as part of the Business Process Optimization project, will be used to develop procurements for future software procurements.
    • The Business Process Optimization project focuses on identifying, cataloging, and reengineering business processes and requirements that are necessary to improve the user experience. These reengineered processes and requirements will support a more efficient claims process for both internal and external System users.
      • The Department continues to hold bi-weekly workshops to support the development of business and technical requirements that will be used to procure for various software tools. During this reporting period, the Department completed the workshops focused on gathering requirements that reflect how the current System operates for the Core Claims process and commenced workshops ahead of schedule for the Initial Claims and Employers and Third-Party Administrators modules.
      • The Department accepted the Lessons Learned Collection Process deliverable, which establishes a process to capture, document, and evaluate lessons learned that will support continuous System improvement.
      • This reporting period, the vendor submitted business processes for Department review for both the current and future state for the Continued Claims process. These future state requirements detail the specifications that must be met by future vendors who will provide software solutions for various Modernization projects.
    • The Incremental CX/UX Mobile Responsive Software Transformation project includes optimizing the existing System and developing a user-friendly front-end for Reemployment Assistance claimants that is also mobile-friendly. The transformation will occur incrementally to ensure all System users benefit from System optimization, with a focus on enhancing the claimant experience first.
      • Core Claims and Claim Status
        • This module is forecast to start in August 2022; however, the Department is working with its SSI vendor to host workshops to determine the modernized System’s technical requirements and to the future state business requirements developed by the Business Process Optimization vendor to support future procurement activities for this module.
      • Continued Claims
        • This module is forecast to start in September 2022; however, the Department is working with its SSI vendor to host workshops to determine the modernized System’s technical requirements and will evaluate the future state business requirements that are being developed by the Business Process Optimization vendor to support future procurement activities for this module.
      • Employers and Third-Party Administrators
        • This module is forecast to start in October 2022; however, the Department is working with its SSI vendor to host workshops to determine the modernized System’s technical requirements for this module.
      • Initial Claims
        • This module is forecast to start in October 2022; however, the Department is working with its SSI vendor to host workshops to determine the modernized System’s technical requirements for this module.
    • The Data Warehouse project established a separate infrastructure environment for storing and reporting Reemployment Assistance data. The data warehouse enhances System performance by conducting reporting activities in a separate infrastructure environment.
      • This project was completed in January 2022.
    • The Reporting project includes migrating all System reports from the System to the Data Warehouse and developing and validating all federally mandated Reemployment Assistance reports. The data warehouse provides the Department with standardized data and reduces the need for staff intervention for future reporting activities.
      • No change from the previous reporting period.
    • The Archival and Purge project establishes a process for archiving and purging appropriate Reemployment Assistance data. These activities will reduce the Department’s data storage costs and greatly impact the efficiency and stability of the System, because it will purge any data that is no longer required to be maintained by the Department and allow for the secure storage in a separate environment of any data that the Department must maintain for a period of time.
      • In this reporting period, the Department assembled a project team and drafted a project charter to outline the project’s objectives.
    • The Master Data Management and Interoperability project focuses on creating a data catalog and data dictionary for the Department. These efforts promote data standardization and data sharing among information technology systems that exchange information with the Reemployment Assistance program.
      • This reporting period, a Project Manager was assigned began working on developing a project schedule and detailed project requirements.
    • The Security Architecture Review project includes assessing the proposed modernized System to strengthen System security, reduce risk for all System users, and to define and implement enhanced security practices that meet or exceed modern security standards.
      • A contract with Ernst & Young was executed in May 2022.
      • The vendor submitted a Project Management Plan and Schedule to the Department for review.
    • The Identity and Access Management project includes updating all Departmental identity management and access control policies and implementing enhanced front-end security measures to authenticate System users. These efforts ensure the individuals who have access to the System are provided the appropriate amount of access for their need.
      • Requirements for this project have been gathered and are undergoing internal review.
      • This reporting period, the project team initiated the enterprise information technology team to determine the impact of this project on enterprise applications that manage staff. These discussions are ongoing and will help support the development of a project plan to support project implementation, including the enhancement of existing enterprise applications and the System.
    • The Security Architecture Audit project includes a technical audit that will be provided by an independent third-party to review and test all technical aspects of the System for improved System security.
      • This project is forecast to start in January 2023.


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