NOAA MARS ImplementationDeployment Support
Thursday October 4, 2007
2:30 pm EDT
Agenda
• Background on the MARS application
• Desktop and application requirements
• Role of local IT support
• MARS Support
• Pre-Deployment activities
• Contact information
Background
• The Management Analysis and Reporting system (MARS) is an enterprise budget execution and financial reporting application for line, staff offices, and FMCs
• Functionality allows users to track commitments, forecast labor, plan execution-year budgets, and conduct financial reporting and analysis
• Primary MARS data source is the Commerce Business System (CBS), NOAA’s financial accounting system
MARS DEPLOYS OCTOBER 15
Background
• MARS integrates 2 existing applications: the Financial Reporting System (FRS) used in NMFS and Business Objects used in NWS.– FRS is a custom, Oracle-based application – Business Objects is a COTS business intelligence
tool
• FRS is the data entry module of MARS• Business Objects is the reporting and analysis
module • MARS requires 2 separate log-ins until single
sign-on is implemented in FY08 or FY09
Background
• With the implementation of MARS these Line Office applications will be retired:– FRS in NMFS– COAST in NOS– TAPS in NMAO– Business Objects / OLAP in NWS, and – FDMS in OAR (users will have read-only access to
historical date beginning 11-30-07)
Background
• The NOAA Chief Financial Officer, Maureen Wylie, is the MARS system owner
• The NOAA Information Technology Center (ITC) in Largo, MD is hosting the application
• Development team comprised of personnel in the NMFS OCIO office, the NWS OCFO office, and OAR PMEL office
MARS Solution End-State
NOAA DW
CBS
Commitment Tracking, Spend Plans, Labor Forecasting
OCFO Portal Homepage
CSTARS
Commitments for Contracts, Small Purchases
End-to-End Resource Management System
(E2E)
Obligations
NFC personnel
data
Sunflower
PLANNING / PROGRAMMING / BUDGETING EXECUTION
Existing applications
Component of MARS Implementation
Future Functionality
User
Planning, Programming, Budgeting
FRS Business Objects
MARS
Grants Online
You Are Here
https://mars.rdc.noaa.gov
Desktop Requirements
Application Requirements
• Java – Sun 1.4.2_xx– Sun 1.5.0_xx– Apple 1.4.2_xx
• J-initiator - version 1.3.1.26• Adobe Reader - version 5.0 or higher
The user may download the applications by going to https://mars.rdc.noaa.gov and clicking on the Downloads drop-down menu at the top of the page
MARS User Accounts and Passwords
• MARS Support will provide user IDs and passwords to users prior to deployment
• Recommend users change their passwords at initial log-in
• MARS Support will handle all MARS account administration
Role of Local IT Support Staff
• Assisting MARS users in downloading and installing the correct version of Java, J-initiator, and validating other desktop requirements
• Establishing VPN accounts for MARS users who telework or work outside a NOAA network
• Helping MARS development team and ITC troubleshoot connectivity issues
• Contacting MARS Support for users who are unable to resolve connectivity issues
Pre-Deployment Activities for Local IT Support
• Assist MARS users in your office by:– Verifying connection to https://mars.rdc.noaa.gov– Establishing VPN accounts for users who require
access to MARS while teleworking, or when outside a NOAA network
– Confirming desktop requirements; installing j-initiator, Java, and Adobe Reader
– Troubleshooting connectivity issues with local network team, MARS Support, the NOAA Network Operations Center (NOC), and / or the NOAA ITC
• NOAA ITC Support line is 301-763-6400
MARS Support
• MARS Support, operated by the NMFS help desk, will provide support to MARS users Mon - Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm EDT
• Users may contact the help desk via email or phone:– [email protected]– 301-713-2376
• MARS development team members will provide tier 2 level support to MARS users
• NOAA ITC and NOC will provide tier 3 level support
Contact Information
• For MARS technical issues or questions, contact the MARS support
• All other MARS-related questions may be directed to Marie Lovern, MARS project manager, at [email protected] or 301-713-0262 x171