Within the USDA APHIS, Marketing and Regulatory Programs-Business Services Information Technology Division, the Technology Management Branch (TMB) provides planning, development, and implementation support for the technologies needed to support the existing and emerging business needs within APHIS. TMB defines, develops, configures and implements the agency application and web architecture. TMB is also responsible for setting the direction of the web architecture in APHIS.
Technik supported the USDA eGovernment initiative to provide web access and to deploy web applications through a web portal framework. The portal software selected for use by both the Department and APHIS was IBM Websphere Portal. As a part of the Task order, Technik developed J2EE applications, portlets, web services, and utilities needed to interface with the Websphere Application Server and Websphere Portal environment. Technik personnel also served as a liaison/consultant to program units within APHIS to assist them in understanding and developing in this environment.
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Project accomplishments and associated activities are described below.
Task 1: Project Management and Reporting
Technik met with the COTR to discuss timing, contacts, documentation and other pertinent information. We performed an analysis of the work and developed a project schedule and a project management plan (PMP). We developed and presented a project schedule with milestones that corresponded to the CLINs. Work was re-evaluated and re-prioritized at the end of each CLIN. Functionality reports, acceptance testing, code check-in and documentation were accomplished to coincide with the sprint cycles. As required by VS, DV United utilized Earned Value Reports to measure our productivity.
Deliverables included: project management plan and project master schedule, weekly status meeting minutes and monthly project status reports.
Task 2: Software Development, Requirement Analysis and Operations/Maintenance
Technik performed the following tasks
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- Served as the primary point of contact for all technical aspects of the required work.
- Worked as part of a team creating common service architecture for components of the enterprise architecture.
- Integrated various existing enterprise systems into the Portal.
- Produced application documentation for all applications, components, and services developed as a part of this Task Order. This consisted of requirements documentation, analysis documents, design documents, test plans, test execution results, and as-built documentation.
- Personally assisted in-house developers with portlet and Java application development issues and problems.
- Facilitated various groups, to ensure that needs are identified, and that sensible and real-world solutions are deployed to meet those needs.
- Defined and analyze business requirements for web-based application systems.
- Participated in design reviews and/or preparation of detailed design specifications.
- Developed J2EE applications, portlets, web services, and utilities needed to interface with the Websphere Application Server and Websphere Portal environment.
- Developed portal applications using open standards (e.g. XML, XSLT, Web Services, etc.) and Enterprise technologies (J2EE) to ensure interoperability between these systems and the Portal.
- Designed/developed/maintained software applications using IBM WebSphere, Java, JSP, Struts, Servlets, IBM Rational Application Developer, XML, and Oracle 9i.
- Built a variety of portlets incorporating personalization, inter-portlet communication (click-to-action and wired), integrated user profiles, user campaigns, and integration with content management systems.
- Developed components specifically related to WebSphere Portal Server, including design and build of new portlets and repurposing of existing code as a generic service.
- Developed Web service applications, including requirements, coding, testing, installation, configuration and support of built applications.
- Evaluated and made recommendations on interfaces between the portal and Agency general support systems including Lotus Collaborative Tools, Lotus Domino, and Oracle applications.
- Evaluated and make recommendations on interfaces between the portal and Agency general support systems including Microsoft Office products and Exchange.
- Researched, designed, developed, and modified components that integrate with enterprise-wide systems and/or application software.
- Modified and customize existing Web applications to meet customer requirements.
- Developed custom JSP components to integrate with enterprise applications.
- Tracked and resolved errors identified during unit test and system test.
- Prepared and executed test plans and test cases/scenarios for unit and integration/ regression testing.
- Served as a liaison/consultant to program units within APHIS to assist them in understanding and developing in the Websphere portal environment.
- Provided portal support and advice to agency application developers.
- Provided portal expertise to other initiatives within the APHIS.
Deliverables included: updated source code in the version control system, completion and documentation of clear quest tickets and other applicable documentation
Task 3: Performance Metrics/ Criteria for Acceptance.
Performance Metrics Reports used quality, responsiveness, timeliness, narratives, staffing/ vacancy reports, invoices, and accuracy of data.
Delivery: Technik adhered to all deadlines and produced deliverables in a timely manner.
Cost Control: Technik performed within cost and budget.
Corrective Actions Taken: None
Technologies Used
Technologies used include: Java Platform, Enterprise Edition(J2EE), Microsoft (MS) SQL Server, MS Access, Microsoft Share Point, Struts, Velocity, Spring, JQuery, iBatis, Struts-menu, Spring Security, Spring AOP, Web Services SOAP via HTTPS and FTPS, XML, BEA Weblogic Server, Custom EJBs ,BPEL and BEA Web logic Portal.