LONG DISTANCE and INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE = SERVICE

From: Subject: LONG DISTANCE and INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:47:50 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/directives/doc/DR3300-1-A.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.6157 LONG DISTANCE and INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE = SERVICE

March 23, 1999 DR 3300-1

APPENDIX A=20

1 PURPOSE

This appendix establishes policies and assigns responsibility = for the=20 management and use of long distance telecommunications services (voice, = data,=20 and video) within the United States Department of Agriculture=20 (USDA).

2 BACKGROUND

Until transition to FTS2001 is complete, USDA will continue to use = the GSA=20 FTS2000 contract for its long distance telecommunications services. This = contract expired in December 1998. Extension contracts have been signed = by the=20 existing FTS2000 service providers which enable agencies to utilize = FTS2000=20 services through December 2000. FTS2001 contracts have been awarded to = U.S.=20 Sprint (December, 1998) and MCI/WorldCom (January, 1999). USDA will = transition=20 to FTS2001 as a corporate entity to ensure that services continue to = support=20 USDA programs. The Telecommunications Network Stabilization and = Migration=20 Program (TNSMP) has established guidelines for ordering FTS2000/2001 = services.=20 These guidelines will ensure the consolidation and optimization of the = USDA=20 networks using FTS2001 service offerings, and pave the way for the=20 implementation of a USDA Enterprise Network (EN).

3 REFERENCES

Source Publication Title/Subject

Congress Public Law 102-140 Title V, Department of State and related = Agencies=20 Congressional Conference Agreement

Congress Public Law 104-52, Title VI, Section 629 Government = wide=20 General Provisions: Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government=20 Appropriations Act, 1996

Congress Public Law 104-106 Clinger-Cohen Act (formerly called the=20 Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996)

Executive E.O. 13011 Federal Information Office of Technology

GSA FPMR 101-35.301 Mandatory Federal Technology Service (FTS) Long = Distance=20 Network

GSA FPMR 101-35.200 Authorized Use of Long Distance Telephone = Services

GSA Handbook FTS2000 Agency Reference Guide

4 ABBREVIATIONS

CDR - Call Detail Records

DAR/D - Designated Agency Representative/Dedicated

DAR/N - Designated Agency Representative/Non-Dedicated

DTS-PO - Diplomatic Telecommunications Service-Program Office

FPMR - Federal Property Management Regulations

FTS - Federal Technology Service

GSA - General Services Administration

ID3 - International Direct Distance Dialing

LATA - Local Access and Transport Area

OASIS - Off-Site Access to Servers and Intranet Solutions

PMC - Program Management Center

SDP - Service Delivery Point

TMACO - Telecommunications Mission Area Control Officer

TNSMP - Telecommunications Network Stabilization and Migration = Program

5 POLICY

a Public Law 104-52,section 629, prohibits the expenditures of funds = outside=20 of FTS2000 unless there is an exception granted by the Administrator of = the=20 General Service Administration (GSA).

Federal Property Management Regulation (FPMR) Subpart 101-35.301 also = requires the use of GSA's Federal Technology Service (FTS) long distance = network=20 contract by Federal agencies for all telecommunications services.

b As referenced in the FPMR, the terms intercity and long distance = have the=20 same meaning.

c The post-FTS2000 acquisition vehicle, FTS2001, shall be used by all = agencies and staff offices to satisfy core service requirements. Core = services=20 are defined as mandatory offerings until Minimum Revenue Guarantees are = met and=20 include switched voice; Internet Protocol (IP) services; circuit = switched data;=20 toll-free service; packet switched; frame relay; asynchronous transfer = mode;=20 dedicated transmission; and compressed video. All additional offerings = are=20 defined as optional. USDA agencies should consider using FTS2001 = Optional=20 Services but should evaluate current market offerings to obtain the best = value=20 consistent with USDA-wide telecommunications goals and requirements. = FTS2001 is=20 considered a mandatory contract until the Minimum Revenue Guarantees = (MRG) have=20 been met.

d The Department of State's DTS-PO is responsible for providing = enhanced=20 telecommunications support for the entire U.S. Federal Government's = Foreign=20 Affairs community. This range of telecommunications support includes = data, voice=20 and facsimile. USDA's telecommunications requirements shall be = coordinated with=20 the DTS-PO for agencies and staff offices conducting business in foreign = countries.

e The International Direct Distance Dialing (ID3) contract with = American=20 Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) is an available source for = international=20 switched voice service only if the DTS-PO has determined it cannot = provide the=20 necessary services. The ID3 contract includes International Outbound,=20 International Inbound, International Calling Card (or full function = Federal=20 Calling Card), and Country-to-Country switched voice service. Agencies = utilizing=20 the ID3 contract shall not suppress the call detail records option.

f Except for international use, only the FTS2000/2001 Federal Calling = Card=20 shall be used. Agencies may not obtain a telephone credit card from a = telephone=20 service provider for employees=3D = use.=20 Long-distance calls made from cellular telephones must use the = FTS2000/2001=20 Calling Card Off-Net procedures. All new Federal Calling Cards shall be = ordered=20 with an employee=3Ds name printed on the card. Calling cards ordered = with a=20 generic office name or position title as the official card holder is not = permitted unless sufficient audit information is maintained to identify = the=20 specific individual that has control of the card and a billing analysis = is=20 maintained and verified for each call made. A non-mandatory FTS contract = for=20 Pre-Paid debit cards has been awarded by the General Services = Administration=20 (GSA) to AT&T and is available for USDA use. Agencies and staff = offices=20 should be aware that Call Detail Records (CDR)=3Ds = are not=20 generated, nor are they available, for the FTS Pre-Paid calling card.=20

Agencies and staff offices are still responsible for ensuring that = calls made=20 are limited to the conduct of official business.

g The use of all other commercial pre-paid debit cards or telephone = service=20 for long-distance service (e.g.,10-10-321) is not permitted.

h Centralized billing shall be the mandatory billing method = used by all=20 agencies and staff offices for all FTS2000, FTS2001, and GSA niche = service=20 contracts, including but not limited to ID3, OASIS, and Federal Wireless = Telecommunications Services (FWTS).

i Use of A900" service on the FTS2000 network is prohibited = and has=20 been blocked by GSA. A900" service is a core service on FTS2001. USDA, = however, is=20 prohibiting the use of 900 service.

6 RESPONSIBILITIES

a The Office of the Chief Information Officer will:

(1) Provide leadership, guidance and oversight to the agencies' = Telecommunications Mission Area Control Officer (TMACO)=3Ds = and Designated=20 Agency Representative (DAR)'s on USDA long distance service strategies,=20 USDA-wide Service Delivery Point (SDP)'s and the Telecommunications = Network=20 Stabilization and Migration Program (TNSMP);

(2) Provide customer support to agencies and staff offices regarding=20 FTS2000/2001 services;

(3) Represent the Department to GSA regarding requests for exceptions = to=20 mandatory contracts, such as FTS2000/2001 services;

(4) Represent the Department to oversight agencies on = telecommunications=20 related issues;

(5) Serve as the USDA liaison with international, interLATA, and = intraLATA=20 telecommunications service providers;

(6) Respond to oversight agencies (OMB, GAO, etc.) with timely and = accurate=20 USDA telecommunications program and cost information; and

(7) Provide guidance and oversight to agencies and staff offices = related to=20 the transition to the FTS2001 contract.

b Agencies and Staff Offices will:

1) Submit requests to the Office of the Chief Information Officer = (OCIO) for=20 exceptions to the use of FTS2000/2001 and other mandatory-for-use = contracts;=20

(2) Transition their current core FTS2000 services to FTS2001;

(3) Establish controls for the strict management and oversight of the = FTS=20 Pre-Paid calling cards to avoid potential telecommunications fraud and=20 abuse;

(4) Assign TMACO=3Ds to serve as the agency primary contact for=20 FTS2000/2001;

(5) Adhere to the DAR responsibilities enumerated in the "FTS2000 = Agency=20 Reference Guide" published by GSA;

(6) Review bills and certify usage of FTS2000/2001, other = mandatory-for-use=20 contracts, and commercial telephones, including cellular;

(7) Use FTS2000/2001 for intra-LATA toll calls in locations where=20 permitted;

(8) Submit all requests for overseas telecommunications services to = the=20 DTS-PO for consideration. All requests shall be submitted by the = agency's TMACO;=20

(9) Provide the TMACO's name to the DTS-PO when this information = changes;=20 and

(10) Require that the supervisor authorize in writing the approval of = International Direct Dial capabilities for an employee telephone and = forward the=20 information to the TMACO.

c Telecommunications Mission Area Control Officers (TMACO) = will:

(1) Manage the mission area and agency telecommunications programs in = a=20 manner consistent with Departmental direction and mission area/agency = program=20 delivery requirements;

(2) Provide oversight to the Designated Agency Representatives;

(3) Analyze and facilitate opportunities for sharing existing or = planned=20 dedicated network access services and equipment;

(4) Identify mission critical circuits, both voice and data, for = priority=20 restoration of services; and

(5) Serve as the agency primary contact for telephone abuse and=20 fraud.

d Designated Agency Representatives will:

(1) Coordinate approval with the TMACO for FTS2000/2001 = service=20 requests. Prepare, submit and track all service requests for = FTS2000/2001=20 services;

(2) Serve as the agency liaison to the GSA FTS2000/2001 Program = Management=20 Center (PMC); and

(3) Coordinate with their TMACO, the USDA FTS2000/2001 Coordinator = and other=20 agency DARs of intent to provide services (e.g., type, location, date, = etc.)=20 to:

(a) verify shared service potential prior to placing orders; = and

(b) maximize cost savings and/or cost avoidance through optimization = and=20 consolidation of service delivery points.

7 DEFINITIONS

a Designated Agency Representative/Dedicated or = /Non-Dedicated:=20 An agency employee responsible for assisting users with questions = regarding=20 FTS2000/20001 services, features, functions, applications, and benefits. = The DAR=20 is authorized to order FTS2000/2001 services and features after approval = has=20 been granted by the TMACO.

b USDA FTS2000/2001 Coordinator: The USDA representative that = serves=20 as the primary contact with GSA on FTS2000/2001 issues. The Coordinator = ensures=20 that USDA=3Ds concerns are heard by GSA and that GSA policy = information=20 is passed to appropriate agency personnel.

c Telecommunications Mission Area Control Officer (TMACO): The = authorized USDA agency or staff office representative responsible for = submitting=20 international service requests on behalf of their respective agency to = the=20 DTS-PO. Additionally the authorized signature authority for FTS2000/2001 = orders=20 within an assigned mission area or agency.

d Centralized Billing: The General Services Administration = (GSA) has=20 awarded FTS2001 and a number of niche contracts and has given agencies a = choice=20 of direct billing by the vendor (bypassing GSA) or centralized billing = in which=20 GSA manages the billing process. Our analysis indicates a minimal = difference in=20 actual costs when GSA manages this process centrally, yet all agencies = benefit=20 from GSA=3Ds ability to negotiate from a position of strength = in=20 representing the entire Federal Government. Further, consolidation of = the=20 billing better enables the Department to track telecommunications=20 information.

e Minimum Revenue Guarantee: The Government commitment is=20 approximately 60 percent ($750 Million) of the forecast revenue over the = initial=20 four-year contract period of FTS2001. The MRG sends a message to = industry of the=20 level of commitment offered by the government for the=20 contract.