Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 950 CMR - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH › Title 950 CMR 120.00 - Information Technology Purchasing Process › Section 120.02 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
For the purpose of 950 CMR 120, the following terms will have
				the meaning assigned, unless another meaning is obvious from the context of
				950 CMR 120.00:
Compatible Growth
- the addition of
				like hardware or software to an existing base or the upgrading of existing
				hardware or software by substituting a new or more powerful release.
Feasibility Study
- An
				investigation:
(a) to estimate the resources required for a proposed IT
				Resource acquisition, including the expenditures anticipated and the time,
				money and other resources to be expended for related undertakings by the
				Registry such as staffing and site preparation,
(b) to verify that these resources are available to the
				Registry,
(c) to provide a best estimate of the benefits expected to be
				derived for the acquisition, and
(d) to determine whether the expected benefits of the proposed
				procurement are sufficient to warrant the expenditure of those
				resources.
Funds
- funds include, but are not
				limited to, all state appropriations, proceeds from bond sales, trust funds,
				grants, and gifts.
Hardware
- a subset of IT Resources,
				including any of the following:
(a) computers that accept and store data, perform calculations
				and other processing steps, and produce information from that data.
(b) all peripheral or auxiliary equipment used primarily in
				conjunction with a computer, whether procured with the computer or
				separately.
(c) data transmission or data communications equipment.
IT - Information Technology
- the use
				of programmable hardware and software to improve effectiveness or
				efficiency.
IT Resources
- hardware, software,
				systems, or services or any combination of them, as the context permits.
Needs Analysis
- a study of the
				objectives of a proposed procurement, in order to prepare technical
				specifications for the hardware, software, systems or services to be
				procured.
Notice of Proposed Procurement
- a
				Registry's initial written statement to the Secretary of its intent to procure
				IT Resources.
Registry IT Initiative
- a plan
				detailing the use of IT Resources for automating a business function or process
				or enhancing an already automated process or function.
Registry IT Plan
- a document prepared
				and periodically revised by a Registry to guide its use and acquisition of IT
				Resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary's IT Plan. Each Registry IT
				Plan will contain:
(a) a brief description of the Registry's mission,
(b) specific IT Initiatives
(c) best estimate of cost to implement each IT Initiative,
				and
(d) the name of the Registry Procurement Coordinator.
Requirements Definition
- the
				examination of existing information flow, hardware capability and operational
				procedures within an organization. A Requirements Definition generally consists
				of four basic parts: a description of the present system and its objectives; a
				statement of the problem; a presentation of the feasible alternative solutions,
				and their strengths, weaknesses and estimated costs, and a
				recommendation.
Screening Conference
- consultation(s)
				between a Registry Procurement Coordinator and a designee of the Secretary of
				the Commonwealth to review a Notice of Proposed Procurement, to offer advice
				concerning the nature and scope of the procurement appropriate to the needs
				described in the Notice.
Secretary
- the Secretary of the
				Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's IT Plan
- a document
				prepared and periodically revised by the Secretary, containing guidelines to
				the Registries designed to promote consistency and coherence among the
				Registries in their acquisition of IT Resources.
Services
- the furnishing of labor,
				time, or effort by private contractors not involving the sale, rental, or
				license of property to the Commonwealth. The term includes, but is not
				necessarily limited to:
(a) the labor of individuals qualified by education,
				experience, or training to perform Feasibility Studies, Needs Analyses, system
				analyses, system design, system specification, programming, data conversion,
				system implementation, system testing, and other tasks relating to the
				planning, selection, design, development, and use of IT Resources,
(b) the development, enhancement or maintenance of
				software,
(c) the maintenance or repair of hardware, and
(d) the use of systems, including service bureau
				arrangements.
Software
- computer programs and
				procedures which control the operation and use of hardware. Software includes
				operating systems, compilers, assemblers, utility programs, library routines,
				maintenance routines and application programs, and the associated
				documentation. This includes commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS).
Statement of Work
- a description of
				duties and tasks to be performed under a contract.
System
- an interacting complement of
				IT Resources and other resources organized to perform specific processing tasks
				and activities and produce specific results.