SDWIS Project Update: Winter 2020

March 9, 2020 Anthony DeRosa
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Data Management, SDWIS Prime

Data Management Users Conference: 2020

ASDWA is finalizing logistics for the 2020 Data Management Users Conference. We’re planning for a 2-day format in the September timeframe and hope to have an official save the date out to the community soon.

In the meantime, if you have an idea for a topic or session or would like to present on a data management initiative in your state, please contact Anthony DeRosa of ASDWA.

Register for the All Things SDWIS Webinar Series for 2020

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5278411580829626124– one registration will set you up for the entire year, and you will receive updates and email reminders. View past webinar recordings in the SDWIS Video Library. If you would like to receive calendar event reminders, please email Towana Dorsey of EPA [Dorsey.towana@epa.gov].

SDWIS/State 3.4

EPA released SDWIS State 3.4 on January 30, 2020. All add-ons and documentation are available at https://epa.systalex.com/pls/sdwis/f?p=SDWIS_STATE_FILES and via ASDWA’s website in the SDWIS User Community section [login required].

SDWIS State 3.4 is a technology update release for compatibility with Tomcat 8.5 using Java 8 with modern browsers. It contains various fixes to issues previously encountered when using SDWIS State with modern browsers.

Learn more about the release or join the discussion on 3.4 in ASDWA’s Forums

For program-wide support of SDWIS State products, contact Justin Wright (wright.justin@epa.gov) or Renee Morris (morris.renee@epa.gov).  For more technical assistance, also contact SDWIS User Support at sdwis@saic.com.

CMDP and SDWIS Prime Contract Transition

EPA’s current contract with Attain for the Compliance Monitoring Data Portal (CMDP) and SDWIS Prime support is expiring over the next few months. Since late January, EPA has been transitioning  Development, Operations, and Maintenance support for CMDP and the Data Synchronization Engine (DSE), and from Attain, LLC to Systalex Corporation. SDWIS Prime is also being transitioned to Systalex, with Systalex serving as custodian of SDWIS Prime until after the SDWIS Modernization Alternatives Analysis is completed and decisions are made regarding the path forward for SDWIS Modernization. Currently, Systalex provides contractual support to several EPA programs, and specifically support the Drinking Water Protection Division on existing programs and services (SDWIS State, SDWIS FedRep, SDWIS Production Control, SDWIS User Support, SDWIS Fed Data Warehouse and SDWIS Fed Reporting Services).

Over the past couple of weeks, EPA has moved the CMDP lead contract support role from Attain to Systalex, with Attain now focused on providing remaining transition support. EPA expects the contract transition to be completed approximately over the next  month. During this period, with most contractor resources dedicated to supporting the transition, the availability of technical support will be significantly reduced, impacting the following:

  • For CMDP Production Primacy Agencies – during the contract transition period, EPA is continuing to provide O&M support on critical issues. Non-critical problem tickets and enhancement requests will be deprioritized.
  • For CMDP Pre-production Primacy Agencies – during the remaining contract transition period, there will continue to be reduced technical resource availability to support CMDP and DSE testing. After the contract transition is complete, EPA plans to resume technical support to previous levels to support Primacy Agencies interested in CMDP adoption.
  • EPA is continuing to monitor the CMDP Help Centerduring this contract transition period; however, only critical requests are being addressed. Non-critical problem tickets and enhancement requests are deprioritized during this time.

SDWIS Prime Data Model and Business Rules Engine (BRE) Technical Assessment

Last September, EPA initiated an analysis task to investigate the Prime data model issues, as well as the reusability of the Business Rules Engine (BRE). GDIT completed this analysis under an EPA Office of Mission Support contract. The SDWIS Prime Data Model & Business Rules Engine Analysis report provides additional technical details on the data model issues that we referenced last summer. The analysis also provides recommendations to EPA on options to consider for reconciling discrepancies between the SDWIS/State and SDWIS Prime data models. Please keep in mind that this technical assessment focused only on the SDWIS Prime data model and the BRE.

SDWIS Modernization Board

In January, the SDWIS Modernization Board [formerly referred to as the SDWIS Governance Board] was formed following a series of discussions between ASDWA, EPA’s SDWIS team, and the E-Enterprise Leadership Council. The Board, co-chaired by Benita Best-Wong, EPA Office of Water Deputy Assistant Administrator and by Victoria Phillips, Enterprise Information Office Director of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, includes representatives from state and EPA drinking water programs and enterprise information management leaders.

The Board will provide subject matter expertise in support of EPA’s Alternative’s Analysis. The high-level scope of the analysis is to identify and assess options for the long-term replacement of SDWIS State that supports the data management needs of both primacy agencies and EPA.

A formal communication about the Modernization Board’s activities will be shared with the broader community soon.

EN Grant Announcement and Supporting Webinars

The FY 2020 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program Solicitation Notice is now available at https://www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/fy-2020-exchange-network-grant-solicitation-notice.  Applications are due to EPA by 11:59 PM Eastern Time, Wednesday, March 25, 2020. 

The purpose of the Exchange Network (EN) assistance agreements is improved access to, and exchange of, high-quality environmental data from public and private sector sources. With this outcome in mind, an application’s project goals and outputs should align with and support one or more EN program priorities. Applicants are also highly encouraged to review the new FY20 Solicitation Notice in full, as updates have been made throughout the document.

In support of the FY 2020 Exchange Network (EN) Grant cycle, EPA will host four webinars to assist interested applicants. The webinars will take place on February 24, February 26, March 6, and March 17. Each webinar will include the same presentation on the following topics: a brief overview of the EN Grants Program and FY 2020 timeline, critical elements of the Solicitation Notice, notable changes from FY 2019, an overview of new guidance materials and optional templates, and common mistakes to avoid. This broadcast will be followed by a question and answers session with participants. Please note that the sessions will end when all the participants’ questions have been addressed.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 12:30 – 2:00pm ET
Presentation Link- https://meet.lync.com/usepa/mcgown.erin/CDNMT269
For Audio – Dial-In Number: 1(202) 991-0477; Conference ID: 68630018#

Note: The webinars will be given through Skype for Business, which can be joined by clicking the links provided.

For more information, please contact Erika Beasley, EN Grants Program Manager

SDWIS BPA New Task Order Requests

The SDWIS Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is coming into its final year and will be ending on February 3, 2021.  This time frame is not enough to establish a new BPA call order due to the task order establishment process taking 6-8 months. EPA is currently unable to accept any new BPA call order requests and will continue to assist the existing BPA task orders during this final BPA year. EPA is working on a follow-on contract vehicle for Primacy Agencies to utilize in procuring support related to using CMDP and SDWIS Modernization efforts. EPA hopes to have the new vehicle in place for the last quarter of 2020.

If there are any questions on the SDWIS BPA, please contact Trang Le at le.trang@epa.gov, 202-564-1572.

Data Management/SDWIS Communications – Staying in the Loop (reminders)

Lastly, a quick review of the opportunities that exist to stay up to date on data management and SDWIS issues:

  • Email – critical information will continue to be sent directly to community members to ensure all impacted parties receive important communications. Please contact Anthony DeRosa if you are not receiving data-focused emails from ASDWA.

    NEW! EPA listservs for CMDP and SDWIS – these listservs will provide important and timely technical information to the user community.

To subscribe to one or all three of these lists, send a blank email to:

Data Management, SDWIS Prime
Data Management, SDWIS Prime