Federal Register: December 13, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 238)
DOCID: FR Doc 04-27271
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Management and Budget Office
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Circulars, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Interim Final Revision of OMB Circular A-127, ``Financial Management Systems''
DATES: The interim final revision is effective December 7, 2004. Comments on the interim final revision must be received on or before January 3, 2005.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
OMB Circular No. A-127, ``Financial Management Systems,'' dated July 23, 1993, prescribes policies and standards for executive departments and agencies to follow in developing, operating, evaluating, and reporting on financial management systems. This Circular was modified on August 9, 1999 to establish a process for certifying offtheshelf financial management software for agency use. OMB is issuing this interim final revision to Circular A127 to incorporate a realignment of responsibilities for issuing financial system requirements and certifying software. These changes revise Sections 7g, 7i, 8d, 9b, and 9c, delete Section 9a(3); and add new Sections 8g and 9d.
SUMMARY:
Financial Management Systems (A-127),
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
OMB is revising Circular A-127, ``Financial Management Systems,'' to improve coordination among the operators of agency financial management systems, vendors of financial management software, EGov shared services, and the Department of Treasury. The revisions incorporate the transfer of responsibilities from the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program to the Chief Financial Officers Council and the Office of Federal Financial Management. These updates are effective immediately.
A revised version of the entire Circular will be made available on
the OMB Web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb). All questions or
inquiries concerning OMB Circular A127 should be addressed to the
Office of Federal Financial Management, Federal Financial Systems Branch, telephone number 2023953993.
Joshua B. Bolten,
Director.
Transmittal Memorandum No. 3 Revisions to OMB Circular A127
This Transmittal Memorandum replaces and rescinds Circular A127
Transmittal Memorandum No. 2, dated June 10, 1999, which revised
Circular A127, ``Financial Management Systems'' dated July 23, 1993.
Transmittal Memorandum No. 2 revised Sections 8d and 9b of A127 and
added new Sections 9a(3) and 9c. This Transmittal Memorandum revises
Sections 7g, 7i, 8d, 9b, and 9c. It deletes Section 9a(3) and adds new Sections 8g and 9d.
The changes to Circular A127 are as follows:
8d(1) Use of ``OfftheShelf'' Software. Agencies replacing software to meet core financial system requirements must use ``offthe shelf'' software that has been tested and certified through the Chief Financial Officers Council (CFOC) software certification process as meeting OFFM core financial system requirements. Agencies may purchase this software or contract for a service that operates this software using the strategy and procurement vehicle they believe will best enable them to meet their needs in a timely and effective manner following the competition requirements associated with the procurement vehicle being used to conduct the acquisition.
OMB policy pertaining to using ``offtheshelf'' software is contained in OMB Circular A130 and must be followed when replacing financial management systems.
8d(2) Software Certification Testing. ``Offtheshelf'' software will be tested to
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ensure that it meets core financial system requirements as defined in
the Core Financial System Requirements document published by OFFM. The
CFOC will coordinate the testing process and issue software
certifications. Information on the details of the certification testing
process and its results will be available to any interested Federal agency for any certified software package.
8g. Interface Requirements Management. Agencies operating or establishing contracts for financial reporting, transaction processing, or other services that are or will be interfaced to multiple agencies' financial systems must coordinate with OFFM the deployment of these services and changes to them. OFFM will establish interface requirements for these services and incorporate them into the Core Financial System Requirements or other requirement documents, as appropriate. OFFM will consider efficiency and costeffectiveness when establishing deployment dates for new interface requirements.
9b. GSA Responsibilities. GSA will make procurement vehicles
available to agencies for acquiring software that has been certified according to the processes in Section 8d(2).
9c. CFOC Responsibilities. The CFOC will establish processes for
testing ``offtheshelf'' software supporting core financial system requirements that include:
[cir] Developing and administering the certification test,
[cir] Notifying GSA when a software package successfully completes the certification test,
[cir] Providing interested parties with information on the core
financial system requirements and their related testing scenarios, and
[cir] Providing interested parties with details on the results of the certification tests for certified software packages.
[cir] A new Section 9d is added and reads as follows:
9d. Transition. All software certifications previously issued by the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) shall be deemed to have been issued by the CFOC.
All financial management system requirements documents and other
guidance issued by the JFMIP are transferred to OFFM and remains in
effect until modified. OFFM will issue guidance memoranda as needed to
clarify any transition issues. OFFM will issue guidance memoranda as needed to implement the requirements of this Circular.
[FR Doc. 0427271 Filed 121004; 8:45 am]
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Wayne Leiss using the address information above. You may also call (202) 3953993.