# Presentation: 735204

## NRCSWeb Presence

**NRCS National Information Technology Seminar 2002**

## NRCS WEB PRESENCE

**Where We Began****Terry Bish, CCS**
**Phase I: What We Accomplished****Jane Grant, ITD**
**Phase II: Where We’re Heading****Suzanne Pender, CCS**
**Web Farm Overview & Services****Barb Pursley, ITD**
**Q&A****Terry Bish, CCS**

**NRCS W****EB ****P****RESENCE**

## NRCS Web Presence Players

**Sponsors**
**Terry Bish**, Director, Conservation Communications Staff (CCS)
**Mary Thomas**, Chief Information Officer & Director, ITD
**Web Farm Customer Services Coordinator**
**Barbara Pursley, **ITD

## NRCS Web Presence Players

**Web Modernization Team **
**Suzanne Pender, CCS Lead**
**Jane Grant, ITD Lead**
**Lynette Harris, ITD Lead**
**Bob Kling**
**Tony Nguyen**
**Andre Rudder**
**Cassandra Taylor**
**Darlene Williams**
**Claudette Hayes**

## Phase II: Where We’re Heading

**Roles**
**Content Owner**: Responsible for content appropriateness and quality assurance sites.
**Web Coder**: Works for and with content owner to make updates for Web site.
**IT Representatives: ** Responsible for server administration, web page presentation, format and content adhering to NRCS look and feel.  Trains new users and keeps web coder document current and correct.  **DOES NOT**
**CHANGE CONTENT.**

## Driving Forces for change
Freedom to E-File
Section 508 
Departmental Framework
GPEA – Government Paperwork
        Elimination Act

**Freedom to E-File**
**Section 508 **
**Departmental Framework**
**GPEA – Government Paperwork**
**        ****Elimination Act**

**Where We Began**

**Notes:**
The vision of an eGovernment that is seamless to customers can only be realized if agencies work together to identify customers, their common interests and needs, and design integrated web-based processes that work best from the customers’ perspective (“customer-centric”).  OMB has indicated that simply “webifying” current processes will not be enough.  This issue will require significant commitments of time, energy, and effort by all elements within USDA.  Making the transformation to eGovernment at USDA presents significant challenges for USDA’s program leaders as well as the Information Technology Community.
Managing change to eGovernment while maintaining existing program models; 
Ø Prioritizing eGovernment initiatives in concert with numerous legislative mandates;
Ø Reengineering business processes to be customer-centric and optimized for delivery over the Internet;
Ø Funding for eGovernment within existing budgets;
Ø Providing a secure, reliable, web-based infrastructure 

## DRIVERS

**NRCS Initiatives – Responding to Driving Forces**

-  **E ****Forms**
** ****WebCAAF**
**E-Directives**
**Web Site Modernization Effort**
**NHQ – Phase I**
**State, Centers, Regions, and Institutes – ****Phase II**
**NRCS Internet – Phase II**

## Where We Began

**Branding an Agency**
- Consistency in Purpose
- Consistency in Approach/Language
- Consistency in Image, Design, Logo

## Where We Began

**Problems of Old NRCS Web Site**
- Different look and feel from page to page
- Constructed piecemeal
- Information was not placed logically
- Information was difficult to find
- Not 508 compliant

**Notes:**
The old site did not have the same look and feel on each page.  The public complained that
They were not sure when they has left an NRCS site.  Due the way it was developed and
maintained the same information could be found in many different places and different and
often incorrect versions.  The old site was not maintained well and had many broken links
and sites not maintained.

## Phase I: Where We Began

**Goals of the Web Modernization Team**
- Improve user access to information
- Provide easier navigation between content areas and enhance searching capability
- Create consistent agency identity throughout site
- 508 Compliance (IT’S THE LAW!!)
- Ease of updates for web coders & content managers

## Phase I: Where We Began

**Web Modernization Team Approach**
**Contract with TeAM for Web Support included:**
**Requirements for NRCS electronic business;**
**Requirements for federal, departmental, and agency guidelines, and laws;**
**Continuous maintenance of Web ;**
**Continuous training for web coders, project managers, and other web personnel.**
-                        -more-

## Phase I: What We Accomplished

**Developed questionnaire to identify user requirements for the new NRCS Web Site. (Over 100 interviews were conducted.)**
**Interview results were used to develop the New NRCS Web Presence, which included:**
**Improved accessibility**
**New and better look and feel**
**Cohesive links in line with standards for web construction and maintenance.**
**Emphasis on external and internal customer’s usability.**

**Notes:**
The interviews were conducted with questions asking what was very important, important and not 
Important.  The very important and important results were used to develop the new look and
feel.   Some of the concerns were content not maintained and incorrect and hard to find. 
Not having a search engine.  Not knowing if you were still on the NRCS site
Broken links and Having to search too many levels down to find anything.

## Phase I: What We Accomplished

**Organized contents by subject rather than by NRCS organization structure**
**Comply with Freedom to E-file Act and Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA)**
**Comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (IT’S THE LAW!!)**

**Notes:**
The concensus was to organize by subject rather than by NRCS organization.  Organizing by subject would make information easier to find and maintain and eliminate duplication.  Before sometimes the same
Information could be found with different versions – one old and one new.  We also needed to make sure all considerations were made to follow laws and mandates.

## Phase I: What We Accomplished

- Enables customers to easily find information pertaining to conservation
- Provides ease of use and navigation
- Provides an improved look and feel
- Integrates USDA search engine
- Compliance with Rehabilitation Act, section 508 (IT’S THE LAW!!)

**New Web Site Launched April 8, 2002**

**Notes:**
The  new site was launched on April 8.  The process works in the following way:
During our contract with TeAM the ITD reps were trained to handle every phase of working with the
Web – designing, creating, and maintaining a web site.  Training was also performed for the
Web coders and content managers.  We have also developed a training plan to train new web personnel.
The content managers put the information onto the server in Beltsville and notify a mail box
Called web updates that new information is up.  They also send a signed form that content has
Been approved to be updated.  The ITD reps check the new update to make sure it conforms with
The look and feel and conforms with the style guide, 508 compliance, etc.  They do not change content.
After it is checked it is sent to the web form to be put on the production server.

## LOOK AT NRCS NOW

- Agency letterhead
- Agency colors
- Agency logos
- Agency-specific graphics

- For detailed information on NRCS Web styles:
- _[http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/styles.html](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/styles.html)_

## Phase I:  What We Accomplished

**Lessons Learned**

- Significant amount of work involved;
- Training and continuous one-on-one help for web coders is necessary;
- Web content must be understood and organized before creating a site or subsection;
- Page testing and review is necessary in every step of the approval process;
- Collaborative team work to accomplish goals.

**Notes:**
One thing we learned is state of the art is constantly changing.
So continuous training for web coders, ITD reps. must be ongoing.
Our documentation will change also.

## Phase II: Where We’re Heading

- Incorporate the consistent NRCS visual identity in all NRCS Web pages (States, Centers, Institutes, Regions)
- Continue navigation consistency, usability
- Develop an Intranet for NRCS employees
- Continued 508 Compliance (IT’S THE LAW!!)

**Phase II Plans**

## Phase II: Where We’re Heading

**Goals**
- Continue maintaining current site by fixing age-related content and accessibility issues
- Research and analyze Content Management System (CMS) solutions
- Enhance/update design and architecture of site based on post-launch feedback
- Provide more Web training
- Implement look-and-feel consistency
- Develop Intranet for internal users

## Phase II: Where We’re Heading

**Phase II: Where We’re Heading**

**Toward a Consistent Look and Feel**

## Approval Process – Work in Progress
We want your assistance and input.  It is a collaborative effort.  A core team will be developed to create procedures to make decisions such as:
Who approves sites?
Process
Steps for coders?
Process steps and changes?

**We want your assistance and input.  It is a collaborative effort.  A core team will be developed to create procedures to make decisions such as:**
**Who approves sites?**
**Process**
**Steps for coders?**
**Process steps and changes?**

**Phase II: Where We’re Heading**

## Phase II: Where We’re Heading

- Idaho

- Kansas

- Arizona

**Toward a Consistent Look and Feel**

## Phase II: Where We’re Heading

- Contract Award
- Talk to State/Region/Center/Institute staffs – a collaborative effort.
- Develop Schedule
- Develop look/feel, navigation plan
- Develop Intranet

**What’s Next  - Work in Motion**

## Web Farm Overview & Services

- Why the Web Farms?
- Web Farms in a Nutshell
- NRCS Web Farm
- Web Farm Services
- Applications in the Web Farm
- Implementing New Web Farm Procedures
- Service-Level Agreements

- Barb Pursley, ITD

## Why the Web Farms?

- Drivers
- USDA Security & Homeland Security
- Presidential Management Initiative
- Freedom to eFile, GPEA (eGovernment)
- OCIO: Web sites open to the public will be hosted outside the USDA network
- Web sites open to employees only AND where both computer and employees are in the USDA network may be hosted locally

## Web Farms in a Nutshell

**Fort Collins**
**Web Farm **

**Kansas City**
**Web Farm **

**St. Louis**
**Web Farm **

**NRCS**

**FSA**

**RD**

- R1

- R1

- R1

**U S D A   B A C K B O N E**

- R1

- R0

- R0

- R0

*Outside  the USDA network*

## The NRCS Web Farm

**The NRCS Web Farm**

- Switch

**2**

**3**

**4**

**5**

**6**

**7**

**8**

**9**

**10**

- Switch

**Backup**

- Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANS)

**Storage Area**
**Network**

**Firewall**

- R0

- Switches

*Anonymous*
*public access*
*(e.g., State Web sites)*

*Databases*

*Authenticated*
*public access*
*(eForms online)*

## Web Farm Services

- Highly available, reliable, _**secure**_ environment
- Web site hosting (static)
- States, Institutes & Centers, Regions, NHQ
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
-  via anonymous download

**Web Farm provides:**

## Web Farm Services

- State application hosting
- Software developed by State
- Database access

**Web Farm does not provide:**

## Applications in the Web Farm

- New Agency Web pages
- Web sites for States, Centers, Institutes, Regions
- Numerous business applications
- eFOTG, Soils, Gateway, etc.

- More

**Who Uses the Web Farm**

## Applications in the Web Farm

- Interagency services
- eForms
- eDirectives
- Event calendar
- Email list server
- Interagency portal
- WebCAAF
- OIP (Office Information Profile)
- Photo Gallery

## Implementing New Web Farm Procedures

- Effectively manage the Web Farm’s growth and future requirements
- Additional security measures
- Resource allocation management

**Why:**

## Service-Level Agreements

- More

** ****Service Level-Agreements (SLA)**
- Signed agreement negotiated between Web site owner and Web Farm
- Covers the services provided (and not provided)
- Signed by Web site’s organizational leader or sponsor and Web Farm management

## Service-Level Agreements

**SLA Inclusions**
- Defines roles & responsibilities for all parties
- Provides contact information
- Defines operating arrangements
- Defines resources (staff, equipment)
**SLA Exclusions**
- Content review or changes
- Application development
- Technical support for software
- Training or support of site management tools

## What’s Next

- WebTrends reports (Web site traffic analysis)
- Automated publishing

**Coming soon:**

## Any questions?

**Terry Bish, Moderator**

**Q&A**