EMS-CS brings integrated, intuitive communications tools to USDA for more than 120,000 people using a centralized system of collaborative technologies.

Service Description

Enterprise Messaging System – Cloud Services (EMS-CS) is an information technology communication service used by all USDA organizations. EMS-CS is managed by OCIO and the service is provided by Microsoft Corporation.

What is included

• Outlook/Exchange: Standard email and calendar support provides 5 GB storage per end user mailbox. An additional 20 GB of storage is available for an additional fee for a total storage size of 25 GB. Storage is not pooled for customer groups. Attachments up to 50mb in size are supported. Also provided are Office Communication Server (OCS) or the Lync client for instant messaging and presence, archiving, spam and virus filtering, the USDA Global Address List, distribution lists, resource accounts, and test accounts (resource and test accounts may not be logged-into or they will then incur charges). Outlook Web access is available on internal USDA networks. Quantities are determined by reporting from Active Directory.
• Live Communication Service: LiveMeeting Standard Edition service provides web and video conferencing with up to 250 end users. LiveMeeting Professional is available for use by USDA and additional licenses can be procured through the USDA volume licensing agreement.
• Mobile Messaging: Access to email and other Office applications via wireless mobile devices is supported.
• Mobile Messaging: Access to email and other Office applications via wireless mobile devices is supported. BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is supported. The server licenses are included as a part of the Microsoft Office 365 service. Customers using BES are required to provide Client Access Licenses (CALs) and must keep this licensing current.
• SharePoint Service:
  • Base SharePoint Services are designed for internal USDA end users and have a 1GB per user storage limit. The use of this by individual users is already included in the EMS-CS Base Service Mail Box fee.
  • Above Base SharePoint Services are available for customer application hosting and integration. These services will incur an additional fee.
• Service Desk Support: USDA provides a Tier 2 Service desk with 24x7 availability. In the event that the Tier 2 Service Desk is unable to resolve the customer reported problem, Microsoft provides a Tier 3 Service Desk with 24x7 availability. Both service desks provide assistance for all of the above listed services.
• Information Discovery and Litigation Support (IDLS): OCIO will support IDLS and other types of official requests for electronically stored information within EMS-CS such as searches or preservation. OGC will determine USDA EMS-CS data retention requirements. Fulfillment of IDLS requests may require additional customer fees. IDLS support activities are only for electronically stored information. Customer organizations are responsible for any maintenance associated with their legacy data. Customer organizations are responsible for making IDLS requests through OCIO eComply and are ultimately responsible for such activities.
• Enterprise Archive Service: Archive/backup and restoration of data for all systems involved in this service.

How We Charge

The costs and pricing for FY 2013 are under development.

Service Level Metrics

Cost Savings Tips

• Streamlined, robust, and responsive infrastructure.
• Use of Live Communication Service can reduce the need for travel expenditures.
• Consistent message retention and discovery is provided at the Department level. Personal archives can help keep mailbox sizes low.
• Improved document storage and greater security.
• Enhanced client management and capabilities.