Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Information Technology (IT) Hardware Request Policy (April 2021)

SCI Division Administration Series

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) HARDWARE REQUEST POLICY

Request Submittal 

Purpose 

To streamline the approval process for the deployment of IT hardware and related software as 

applicable.

Policy

All field offices are required to complete and forward SC-350 to their Regional Office Branch 

Chief (ROBC) or Federal Program Manager (FPM) respectively to have equipment deployed.

• Ruggedized equipment requests

For ruggedized equipment ROBC or FPM will review and forward verified requests with 

supporting documentation to National Program Management Services (NPMS) Inspection 

Operations for approval.

o NPMS will review request and approve if requirements are met.

o NPMS will assign a FEIRS inspector ID code

o NPMS will request MRP IT App Support to set up FEIRS Profile.

o NPMS will submit request to Business Management Services (BMS) to handle the 

ruggedized equipment deployment (attach SC-350). 

• Non-ruggedized equipment requests

For non-rugged equipment, ROBC will review and forward verified requests with 

supporting documentation to BMS

o For non-rugged units and IT hardware, send request with SC-350 to BMS

o Telecommunications related requests are also submitted to BMS

BMS will: 

• Submit hardware requests and coordinate with CeC and ASD to get the equipment 

transferred and/or shipped to the CeC technician and activate any mobile services 

respectively 

• Request built in air card information from CEC tech or end user once the computer is 

imaged and booted-up.
SCI Division Administration Series Information Technology (IT) Hardware Request Policy

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• For all other peripheral equipment such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, copier, or 

similar, BMS will review the request and coordinate with the requestor to advise on best 

specification and purchase route for requisition.

Equipment deployment and receipt

• Once CeC receives equipment from BMS, CeC will coordinate with end user and 

immediate supervisor on setup, shipment, and receipt of equipment at user location.

• Once received and confirmed working, end user will notify BMS asset management staff of 

successful receipt and functionality of equipment.

• BMS asset management staff will close out the request and update asset inventory records 

accordingly. 

Completing SC-350

• Requester: Enter date form is being completed 

• Requester’s name

• End user’s name (if multiple end users enter multiple users in this block and follow 

multiple user guidance below)

• End user’s Business phone

• End user’s Area office

• End user’s Sub-Office or Inspection Point (if Applicable) 

• Full Ship to address (where to deliver the equipment)

• Name of end user’s immediate supervisor

• Business phone number for supervisor

• Select applicable blocks for hardware that is being requested (more than one can be 

selected)

• Rugged units must be specified if desired

• If other hardware other than what is requested is needed, check the ‘Other Hardware’ block 

and explain

• If you have specifications or requirements, please include

• Provide justification and/or list of custom applications that need to be installed for the end 

user (this does not include standard applications like Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, 

etc...)

• If multiple units involved, use additional fields and remarks. Enter quantity and type.

• If request involves a computer specifically for Fresh Electronic Inspection 

Resource/Reporting System (FEIRS) use, provide FEIRS ID and Home Market for end 

user

• Signature of Regional Office Branch Chief required before advancing to HQ for approval 

and deployment.

• Signature of Division approver required. For Fed/State users the Division approver is the 

Fed/State Branch Chief. For FEIRS users the Division approver is a member of NPMS. 

For all others the Division approver is the Assoc. Dept. Director for BMS.
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The electronic version of the SC-350 is located on the AMS web site at the following link:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/sc-350-sci-division-hardware-request-form

Example I:
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Checked Materials have been printed from the links in this manual and included for 

reference.

“SCI moving forward in the 21st Century using technology, innovation, and old fashioned hard work”

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