59200 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 11, 2005 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Office of the Secretary 

[Secretary’s Order 2–2005] 

Delegation of Authority and 

Assignment of Responsibility for DOL 

Enterprise Communications Initiative 

1. Purpose 

To establish policy and assign 

responsibilities for the management of 

Department of Labor enterprise 

communications services, namely, 

Internet and intranet Web sites, 

telephone contact centers, electronic 

correspondence, translation services, 

and similar activities. 

2. Authority and Relationship to Other 

Orders 

a. Authority 

This Order is issued pursuant to 29 

U.S.C. 551 et seq.; 5 U.S.C. § 301; 

sections 5122–5127 of the ClingerCohen Act [40 U.S.C. 11312–17]; and 

the E-Government Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 

107–347). 

b. Relationship to Other Orders 

(1) This Order does not affect the 

authorities and responsibilities assigned 

by any other Secretary’s Order, unless 

otherwise expressly so provided in this 

or another Order. 

(2) This Order replaces Secretary’s 

Order 2–2003, Management of U.S. 

Department of Labor Web Sites. 

(3) This Order amends Paragraph 

4(a)(10) of Secretary’s Order 2–2002, to 

the extent of any inconsistencies. 

(4) This Order amends Secretary’s 

Order 37–65, to assign responsibilities 

to the Office of Public Affairs for certain 

Web site functions. 

3. Background 

In order to better manage its dispersed 

public Web sites, intranets, 

communications centers, and 

translation services, the Department of 

Labor has established an Enterprise 

Communications Initiative (ECI). The 

prime purpose of the ECI is to make 

more effective use of DOL assets, 

eliminating wasteful duplication and 

reconciling inconsistencies across 

Department communications channels 

that may confuse or mislead the public 

whom we serve. 

The ECI will set ‘‘best practice’’ 

standards and guidelines and, where 

feasible, establish centralized 

facilities—some hardware-based, some 

software-based, some procedural. No 

agency will be asked to incur a 

degradation of services, whether in 

functionality, reliability, performance, 

or cost. Conversely, agencies will be 

expected to participate in consolidated 

services that meet these conditions 

unless they can make a business case 

that such participation is contrary to 

statute or regulation, or otherwise 

would have a negative impact on the 

ability of the agency to fulfill its mission 

and its responsibilities to the U.S. 

taxpayers. 

The ECI’s rationalization of 

infrastructure will be predicated upon a 

careful review and recognition of the 

core needs of the Department and each 

of its associated agencies. The ECI 

recognizes that each individual agency 

has its own specific mission, 

responsibilities, and customer base. 

Consolidation efforts will be most 

applicable to agency functions that 

overlap or have a high degree of 

compatibility. Consolidation will not 

lead to a diminution of agency 

performance or a degradation of 

customer service. 

The ECI will be designed to 

consolidate those services with clear 

benefit to participating agencies. The 

benefits will be measurable and 

demonstrable. 

The ECI will be conducted in a spirit 

of collegial cooperation between the 

Department and its agencies. We will 

work together to build a better, more 

efficient, more effective communication 

infrastructure that will add value to the 

Department of Labor and all its 

agencies. We will share best practices, 

staff expertise, and proven solutions in 

order to provide the best possible 

service to our customers. We will 

establish consolidated services where 

they make sense, and respect the 

individual requirements of 

organizational units when inherent 

differences arise. 

4. Scope Statements 

a. Agencies will remain responsible 

for meeting their program needs. New 

agency-defined ECI information 

technology solutions will be subject to 

coordination with OPA. 

b. OPA will establish ECI policies, 

standards, and procedures designed to 

provide an operational and technical 

framework that facilitates the agencies’ 

ability to meet their program missions 

and functions while ensuring 

Departmental compliance with 

administrative and legislative 

requirements and mandates. 

c. With the agencies, OPA will 

explore, promote and implement ECI 

common, cross-agency solutions with 

demonstrated Departmental economies 

and operational efficiencies that support 

program agency requirements. 

d. OPA, in consultation with OCIO, 

will specify a common, consolidated 

hardware and software platform 

supporting Departmental Internet and 

intranet Web sites. OPA will consider 

the requirements of the agencies in the 

development of the common platform. 

e. OPA will act as the primary 

technical resource available to agencies 

in the design, development and 

deployment of Web and call center 

solutions on a reimbursable basis. 

However, in the event that OPA’s 

unable to meet agency-defined needs in 

a timely manner, the agencies and OPA 

will jointly determine other support and 

development alternatives including the 

use of contractor services, as long as 

DOL policies, standards, requirements 

are met. 

5. Definitions 

a. ‘‘Contact Centers’’ refers to the DOL 

National Contact Center (DOL–NCC) 

and all agency call centers that respond 

to routine customer inquiries (Tier I) 

from the public. 

b. ‘‘Departmental Web Site 

Information Technology Standards’’ 

refers to the policies, processes, and 

procedures, defined by the Office of the 

Chief Information Officer (OCIO), to 

meet architectural, interoperability, and 

security requirements. 

c. ‘‘Enterprise Communications Media 

Channels.’’ See ‘‘Enterprise 

Communications Services.’’ 

d. ’’Enterprise Communications 

Services’’ refers to Internet Web sites, 

intranet Web sites, contact centers, ecorrespondence, and translation 

services. 

e. ‘‘E-Correspondence’’ refers to 

activities related to managing and 

responding to inquiries received via email from the public. 

f. ‘‘Foreign Language Translation 

Services’’ refers to all activities related 

to managing the translation of any DOL 

products, regardless of format and end 

use. 

g. ‘‘Information Technology’’ refers to 

any equipment or interconnected 

system or subsystem of equipment that 

is used in the automatic acquisition, 

storage, manipulation, management, 

movement, control, display, switching, 

interchange, transmission, or reception 

of data or information by the executive 

agency. It also refers to computers, 

ancillary equipment, software, firmware 

and similar procedures, services 

(including support services), and related 

resources. 

h. ‘‘Internet Web Sites’’ refers to 

Departmental Web sites that are 

available to the general public, 

including, upon determination by the 

Deputy Secretary, ‘‘partnered sites,’’ or 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 11, 2005 / Notices 59201 

sites where DOL shares operations, 

management, and/or content with other 

government agencies or non-government 

entities. 

i. ‘‘Intranet Web Sites’’ refers to 

Departmental Web sites that provide 

general access for communicating to 

DOL employees. Agency-specific 

intranet content that supports agencyspecific program delivery internally are 

outside the scope of the ECI. 

j. ‘‘Legacy Web Application’’ refers to 

existing Web applications that may be 

operating properly, but might need to be 

reengineered to function optimally or to 

be in compliance with the approved 

enterprise architecture. 

k. ‘‘New Web Site’’ refers to a new 

presence on the public Web sites, a new 

presence among internal Web sites, or a 

Web site where DOL has shared 

responsibility. Examples include, but 

are not limited to, sites that represent a 

new program, statute, Departmental 

initiative, new type of information 

offered to the public, or new Web sites 

co-sponsored by the Department and 

another entity, public or private. 

l. ‘‘Public Access’’ refers to the ability 

of the public or an audience to access 

Departmental information. 

m. ‘‘Resources’’ refers to technical 

DOL staff, contract staff, budget, and 

technologies including hardware, 

software, licenses and maintenance 

contracts, and documentation associated 

with call centers, and/or Web activities. 

n. ‘‘Tier I’’ refers to contact center staff 

who handle routine customer inquiries. 

Calls or e-mails requiring additional 

expertise not available in the call center 

are referred to technical or subject 

matter experts (Tier II). 

o. ‘‘Web Application’’ refers to an 

application designed specifically to 

deliver and receive information via the 

Web (Internet and/or intranet) and its 

associated protocols (e.g. http, https, 

etc.) as the medium except as defined 

below (p). 

p. ‘‘Web-enabled Application’’ refers 

to an application that is not developed 

for use as part of a Web site but uses 

Web-specific protocols (e.g., http, https, 

etc.) out of convenience. Departmental 

Web-enabled applications that support 

agency-specific program delivery 

internally or to the public are outside 

the scope of the ECI. 

6. Statement of Policy 

Management of Internet and intranet 

resources, e-correspondence, language 

translation services, and the Tier I 

contact centers will be centralized, 

under processes consistent with section 

3 and section 7, to allow the Department 

to leverage economies of scale, utilize 

best practices, and continue to improve 

upon the quality of service provided to 

the public. The following policies are 

established: 

a. Legacy Web applications will 

continue to function ‘‘as is’’ and may be 

integrated over time into the enterprise 

communications architecture, using a 

phased approach on a schedule to be 

determined jointly by the agency and 

OPA; 

b. Agencies will have the option to 

maintain or contract for technical staff, 

services, or equipment or utilize 

services by OPA to develop or support 

enterprise communications services 

within the scope of this Order, in a 

manner to be determined jointly by the 

agency and OPA; and 

c. OPA and the agencies will jointly 

identify and agree on common, 

duplicative, cost-ineffective, or 

functionally-ineffective enterprise 

communications services and 

functionality and resources that may be 

more effectively and efficiently 

consolidated. 

7. Delegation of Authority and 

Assignment of Responsibilities 

a. Deputy Secretary of Labor is 

delegated authority and assigned 

responsibility to: 

(1) Act as an arbitrator or appoint an 

arbitrator when an agency and the 

Office of Public Affairs reach an 

impasse in discussions about 

implementation of the Enterprise 

Communications Initiative. 

b. Assistant Secretary for Public 

Affairs (ASPA) is delegated authority 

and assigned responsibility for 

implementation and management of the 

Enterprise Communications Initiative as 

outlined below: 

(1) Appoint a DOL Director of 

Enterprise Communications Services to 

manage Departmental enterprise 

communications services; 

(2) Manage all consolidated enterprise 

communications services, including 

contracts for technical development and 

services as described in 6.b.; 

(3) Adhere to DOL information 

technology management policies, 

including enterprise architecture, 

security, capital planning, EVMS, 

certification and accreditation, and 

authority to operate requirements; 

(4) In coordination with the agencies, 

develop a common look and feel, 

navigation, and branding for all 

appropriate DOL enterprise 

communications services and ensure all 

standards are implemented; 

(5) Establish a charter and designate a 

Chair for the Enterprise 

Communications Services Advisory 

Council, comprised of senior-level 

representatives from agencies and 

designated policy-level representatives 

from OPA, OCIO, OASP and SOL, for 

the purpose of working to ensure the 

success of the ECI, and foster 

collaborative Department-wide use of 

resources, technologies, and knowledge. 

This committee will disband after ECI 

implementation begins, at the discretion 

of the ASPA, to be replaced by the 

Enterprise Communications 

Management Group; 

(6) Establish a charter and designate a 

Chair for the Enterprise 

Communications Policy Committee that 

will write and implement policies 

relating to enterprise communications 

services, and ensure compliance with 

all federal legislative and administrative 

mandates. Membership will be 

comprised of representatives from 

agencies; 

(7) Establish a charter and designate a 

Chair for the Contact Center Advisory 

Committee that will work to ensure the 

success of the ECI, and foster 

collaborative Department-wide use of 

resources, technologies, and knowledge. 

Membership will be comprised of 

representatives from agencies; 

(8) Establish a charter and designate a 

Chair for the Enterprise 

Communications Management Group 

that will provide guidance to the 

Director of Enterprise Communications 

Services on enterprise communications 

activities. The Enterprise 

Communications Management Group 

will be established after the Enterprise 

Communications Services Advisory 

Council is disbanded. Membership will 

be comprised of senior level 

representatives from agencies and 

designated policy-level representatives 

from OPA, OCIO, OASP, and SOL; 

(9) Subject to other required DOL 

clearance processes, coordinate the 

timely review and approval process of 

all new Internet and intranet Web sites 

with the affected agency, SOL, OASP 

and, where appropriate, the Deputy 

Secretary; 

(10) In cooperation with the agencies, 

develop and establish the Departmental 

content clearance process. OPA will 

have responsibility to manage and 

oversee the established process, 

including: 

(a) Appropriate and timely approval 

or disapproval of content for policy 

consistency, prior to release via 

Departmental enterprise 

communications media channels; and 

(b) Appropriate coordination with 

SOL to ensure compliance with 

applicable laws, regulations, and 

administrative mandates, including the 

Privacy Act, Federal Records Act, 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 

and the E-Government Act. 

59202 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 11, 2005 / Notices 

(11) Receive content updates from 

designated agency content managers, 

timely review submitted information, 

and publish new and updated content. 

This will be implemented using a 

phased approach by developing SLAs, 

to be determined jointly by the agency 

and OPA. OPA will consult with the 

agencies in the evaluation and selection 

of software to be used for DOL-wide 

content management; 

(12) Coordinate enterprise 

communications content and services 

with the agencies to ensure content is 

published in a timely manner, and in 

alignment with the Department’s 

mission and Secretarial goals, and meets 

established SLAs; 

(13) Develop appropriate formal 

agreements as needed with each agency 

to establish agency and OPA roles and 

responsibilities; 

(14) Conduct research and 

development activities related to 

enterprise communications services in 

coordination with the agencies, and 

select promising candidates for further 

development; 

(15) Participate in interagency and 

federal-wide groups, committees, and 

task forces related to enterprise 

communications services, and 

coordinate all DOL responses, 

deliverables, and activities related to 

such groups; 

(16) Collaborate with the agencies and 

use best practices, usability testing, and 

the latest research findings to establish 

policies, standards, processes and 

procedures to ensure that DOL 

enterprise communications services are 

managed in accordance with the Privacy 

Act, Federal Records Act, section 508 of 

the Rehabilitation Act, the 

E-Government Act, and other applicable 

legislative and administrative mandates 

and guidance to protect the legal rights 

of, and minimize the legal risks to, the 

Department; and 

(17) Develop Internet and intranet 

Web applications across all enterprise 

communications media channels 

according to agreed upon agency 

requirements, except when agency 

control over the development of such 

applications is established by law, is 

outside the scope of this order, or is 

authorized jointly by the agency and 

OPA upon agency request. 

c. The Assistant Secretary for Policy 

(ASP) is delegated authority and 

assigned responsibility to: 

(1) Conduct timely content reviews of 

proposed new Web sites for the purpose 

of approving or disapproving the 

proposed sites in coordination with the 

affected agency, OPA, SOL and, where 

appropriate, the Deputy Secretary; and 

(2) Participate in the Enterprise 

Communications Services Advisory 

Council and the Enterprise 

Communications Management Group. 

d. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) 

is delegated authority and assigned 

responsibility to: 

(1) In consultation with OPA and SOL 

as appropriate, provide guidance and 

support, consistent with Secretary’s 

Order 3–2003, for all information 

technology aspects of DOL Internet Web 

sites and intranet Web sites pursuant to 

the Clinger-Cohen Act, E-Government 

Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, section 

508 of the Rehabilitation Act, Federal 

Information Security Management Act 

(FISMA), and other applicable statutory 

and administrative mandates; 

(2) In conjunction with OPA, and 

according to policy, process approved 

domain name requests; and 

(3) Participate in the Enterprise 

Communications Services Advisory 

Council and the Enterprise 

Communications Management Group. 

e. The Assistant Secretary for 

Administration and Management 

(ASAM) is delegated authority and 

assigned responsibility to: 

(1) Ensure, through the Department’s 

budget review process, that the agencies 

and OPA have appropriate plans and 

budgetary commitment to support the 

continuing development, 

implementation, operation, and 

expansion of DOL enterprise 

communications services; 

(2) Support OPA in consolidation and 

realignment of agency resources (as 

defined in Section 5, Definitions) where 

appropriate, in support of the ECI; and 

(3) Provide operational and 

maintenance support to OPA and 

applicable agencies for the hardware 

and operating systems used to run 

Internet information services, Internet 

Web sites, and LaborNet, including 

network connectivity and backups. 

f. The Solicitor of Labor (SOL) is 

delegated authority and assigned 

responsibility to: 

(1) Provide legal advice and services 

to OPA and all other DOL agencies on 

all matters arising in the administration 

of this Order; 

(2) Conduct timely content reviews of 

proposed new Web sites, for the 

purpose of approving or disapproving 

the proposed sites in coordination with 

the affected agency, OPA, OASP and, 

where appropriate, the Deputy 

Secretary; and 

(3) Participate in the Enterprise 

Communications Services Advisory 

Council and the Enterprise 

Communications Management Group. 

g. DOL Agency Heads are delegated 

authority and assigned responsibility for 

developing, implementing, improving, 

and expanding their respective agency 

enterprise communications services in 

accordance with this Order and DOL 

policy and standards. These 

responsibilities include the following: 

(1) Designate an Agency Content 

Manager(s) at the production level to 

serve as the point of contact with OPA 

staff for any enterprise communications 

related issues; 

(2) Nominate appropriate agency staff 

to serve as members of advisory 

committees. OPA will define 

appropriate staff levels for each 

committee; 

(3) Define, fund, maintain, and 

support enterprise communications 

solutions designed to meet their 

program needs in coordination with 

OPA and departmental requirements; 

(4) If the agency maintains 

responsibility for their enterprise 

communications services, ensure that 

all information published via enterprise 

communications services, all ecorrespondence coming into the Web 

sites, as well as responses, and all 

records of business transacted in whole 

or in part via DOL’s enterprise 

communications services are managed 

in accordance with the Federal Records 

Act, Privacy Act, and other applicable 

legislative and administrative mandates 

and guidance; 

(5) Seek OPA’s approval for all 

proposed new Internet and intranet Web 

sites, which will be evaluated in 

accordance with the clearance process 

and DOL policies and standards; 

(6) Conduct quarterly certifications of 

all agency Web and contact center 

content, to ensure the accuracy, 

timeliness, and authority of information 

disseminated via enterprise 

communications channels; 

(7) Develop all agency-specific 

content for enterprise communications 

media channels; 

(8) Establish and enforce an agency 

content review and clearance policy and 

process; 

(9) Assign appropriate ECI contact(s) 

to assist OPA with implementation of 

the ECI; 

(10) Ensure that DOL policies, 

standards, and procedures are 

implemented, as applicable; 

(11) Coordinate with OPA to develop 

new products to further the mission of 

the agency and the Department; and 

(12) Designate an agency contact 

responsible for coordination of foreign 

language translation services. 

8. Effective Date 

This Order is effective immediately. 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 11, 2005 / Notices 59203 

9. Reservation of Authority 

a. The submission of reports and 

recommendations to the President and 

Congress concerning the administration 

of statutory or administrative provisions 

is reserved to the Secretary of Labor. 

b. This Secretary’s Order does not 

affect the authorities or responsibilities 

of the Office of Inspector General under 

the Inspector General Act of 1978, as 

amended, or under Secretary’s Order 2–

90 (January 31, 1990). 

c. The Secretary retains all authorities 

delegated herein. 

10. Redelegations and Transfers of 

Authority 

a. All of the authorities delegated 

herein may be re-delegated with the 

knowledge and approval of all 

responsible parties. 

b. The Assistant Secretary for Public 

Affairs may transfer authorities set forth 

in paragraph 6.b. to other agency heads, 

as appropriate. 

11. Grandfather Clause 

a. Existing Departmental enterprise 

communications services shall continue 

in effect until agencies are transitioned 

into ECI. 

Dated: September 30, 2005. 

Elaine L. Chao, 

Secretary of Labor. 

[FR Doc. 05–20328 Filed 10–7–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–23–P