ramodernization-banner-updates

Updates





Reemployment Assistance Modernization 2022

Reemployment Assistance Modernization October 2022

Feb 16, 2023
  • The 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. The Department has established an isolated environment in the cloud to host data governed by IRS Publication 1075. The Department is applying the necessary security access controls and populating the environment with real data to complete testing in accordance with IRS Publication 1075.
      • Environment Infrastructure migration:
        • Test environments: The Department has established an isolated environment in the cloud to host data governed by IRS Publication 1075. The Department is applying the necessary security access controls and populating the environment with real data to complete testing in accordance with IRS Publication 1075.
        • Pre-production environment: The Department has established an isolated environment in the cloud to host data governed by IRS Publication 1075. The Department is applying the necessary security access controls and populating the environment with real data to complete testing in accordance with IRS Publication 1075.
        • Production environment: Anticipated to be completed in December 2022. Testing is ongoing to ensure successful migration of the System.
    • The Department completed User Acceptance Testing for its cloud-hosted FileNet application upgrade from version 5.2 to version 5.5.7. The FileNet application is used by the Department to manage workflows in the System that ensure files that are provided by claimants, employers, and Third-Party Administrators are merged with the correct claim. The upgrade will be deployed when the System is migrated to the cloud in December 2022.
    • The Digital Appeals Recording Solution (DARS) vendor has begun application development to deploy this technology in a cloud-hosted environment. Development work is anticipated to continue through December 2022. 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 Visual Interactive Voice Response, ChatBot, and WebChat technology vendor continues to develop business and technology requirements, and evaluate security requirements, that will be used to enhance the Department’s existing Customer Call Center technology and provide additional self-service options for Reemployment Assistance claimants.
  • 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 maintain System performance and prevent System downtime.
    • The Department installed the cloud version of the existing application performance management tool and testing has been initiated. Testing will be conducted for several months, and the tool is anticipated to be pushed into production in early June 2023.
  • 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 continues to work 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 Department anticipates the development work to support this integration will be complete in November 2022.
      • The automated test reports that verify business requirements are met following each System enhancement are finalized and approved. Development and subsequent testing will be initiated in November 2022. These changes will eliminate a currently manual process and increase subject matter experts’ efficiency with testing System enhancements.
  • 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 ORM software was upgraded from version 3.5 to version 5.8 and successfully deployed into production in November 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 does not 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.  
    • The Department is conducting final edits to a scope of work for a business rules engine (Rules Engine project), integration platform (SOA and API Layer project), and mobile-responsive user interface (CX/UX project), including services to ensure interoperability. The procurement is scheduled to be advertised in the next reporting period.
    • The Department is developing a catalog of business rules that will be used to develop a continuous modernization plan for the business rules engine. The catalog will identify all business rules that govern the administration of the Reemployment Assistance program, the number of times each rule has changed, the date(s) each rule has changed, and the relative complexity of each rule. This is a labor-intensive process that is anticipated to be complete in May 2023.
  • 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.
    • The Department is conducting final edits to a scope of work for a business rules engine (Rules Engine project), integration platform (SOA and API Layer project), and mobile-responsive user interface (CX/UX project), including services to ensure interoperability. The procurement is scheduled to be advertised in the next reporting period.
  • 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 (SPO) 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 SPO continues to provide overall Program and project management support.
  • The Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) 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.
    • IV&V submitted their third Quarterly Assessment Report, which outlines the overall Modernization Program’s risks and issues across a set of risk dimensions and categories. All dimensions have the same risk rating as the previous Quarterly Assessment Report.
  • 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.
    • The Department is conducting final edits to a scope of work for a business rules engine (Rules Engine project), integration platform (SOA and API Layer project), and mobile-responsive user interface (CX/UX project), including services to ensure interoperability. The procurement is scheduled to be advertised in the next reporting period.
    • The Department anticipates executing a contract amendment in the next reporting period that will allow the Department to maintain an agile approach to maintaining the overall System’s architectural standards. As the System’s architecture will change with each new technology product installation, this contract amendment will allow the Department’s System documentation to evolve with each change and ensure the documentation is current.
  • 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.
    • This project was successfully closed out during this reporting period.
  • 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.
    • The Department is conducting final edits to a scope of work for a business rules engine (Rules Engine project), integration platform (SOA and API Layer project), and mobile-responsive user interface (CX/UX project), including services to ensure interoperability. The procurement is scheduled to be advertised in the next reporting period.
  • 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.
    • Of the 39 reports in-scope for this project, 36 are complete and three are currently being validated.
  • 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.
    • Work sessions with various Reemployment Assistance business units are being held to develop project requirements.
    • The Department’s Records Management Policy is undergoing routine review and is anticipated to be finalized by the next reporting period. This policy will provide the latest guidance to the project team about data to be archived or purged.
    • The project’s scope of work is anticipated to be finalized by the next reporting period.
  • 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.
    • A draft Data Dictionary has been prepared and is undergoing review with the Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.
    • A draft Data Catalog has been developed and is undergoing internal review.
  • 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.
    • This project was successfully closed out this reporting period.
  • 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.
    • The Department advertised a Request for Quote for an IAM tool and services for System user role-based access and customized reports and dashboards to enhance System security and user oversight. See Procurement Status below for the anticipated procurement schedule.
  • 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.


An equal opportunity employer/program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
All voice telephone numbers on this website may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
You have selected a link to a website that is outside of the floridajobs.org domain. Control of the content of this website belongs to the website's owner and not to Florida Commerce.
OK
 
Cancel