Transcript Document

Billing Real Property …. and what I learned

Karen B. Nichols, PMP

April 27, 2020

Agenda

• • • • • •

Background Implementation Billing Workflow Differences from Prior System Adages and Lessons Learned Summary 2

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Background

• • • • • • •

GSA is the civilian landlord for the Federal government > 345 million square feet of workspace > 55% Federally owned Operates 110 child care centers Delivers comprehensive real estate services Preserves/maintains 400 historic properties Collect rents 3

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GSA

Constructs/modifies Federal buildings

Leases/sublets property 4

AA Main Building, Middle River, MD ATF National Laboratory Center

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US Courthouse, Hammond, IN

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Background

• • •

Maintain, develop and enhance applications in support of inventory, occupancy, and billing processes Business Lines

– – –

Real Property Asset Management Revenue Finance External Customers

– –

154 Federal agencies commercial entities April 27, 2020 6

Advantages

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• • • •

Follows industry standards

ANSI/BOMA - Building Owners and Managers Association

IFRMA- International Facility Managers Association Optimize use of Federal/leased space Rents provide the principal funding mechanism for GSA Supports eGov initiatives

Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE)

– – –

Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) Capital Planning IT Security 7

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How Space is Measured

• •

Rent is based upon space measurement Types

Usable Square Feet that an office may occupy

Joint Use of building common areas (lobbies, hallways, rest rooms, and service areas)

Rent is based on Usable and Joint Use space 8

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Problem

• • •

Billing based upon a live, changing inventory Joint use space changed over time Customers needed a predictable bill 9

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Solution

Stabilize the rent bill

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Initiating Processes

Master Plan

Leverage existing applications with newer technology

Separate inventory and billing functions

Expand functionality

New billing April 2005

Preliminary Scope 11

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Planning Processes

Scope Definition

Modify the inventory application System for Tracking and Administering Real Property (STAR)

Redesign the Occupancy Agreement (OA) application

The expectation of services and payment between 2 Federal agencies

– –

Develop a billing application eGov initiative for financial transactions 12

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• • •

Planning Processes

Schedule Development

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Date driven Parallel development among 4 critical applications

Interdependent processes Communications Planning

– – –

Multiple Program Managers Operations Security Risk Mitigation

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Modular and integrated testing Increased testing time Rollback options 13

Planning Processes -

Enterprise Quality Program (EQP)

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Based upon SEI’s Capability Maturity Model – Integrated (CMMi) April 27, 2020

Included

• • • •

Program Plan Configuration Management Plan Risk Management Plan Independent Validation and Verification Plan

Quality Assurance Standards 14

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Executing Processes

• • •

Determined who involved Developers

Close coordination among developers

Joint specifications

Diagram processes Information Distribution

New concepts and processes

Interdependence in operations

Modified for audience 15

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Introduced New Concepts

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Functions in multiple applications New language Multiple scenarios for OAs Joint Use changes do not impact the OA and billing

• •

Each antenna listed separately Rates in cents ($32.24) 16

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Adding Cents to Rates

Ex: Joint Use $651.40 with 20 sqft Before Bill in whole dollars Joint Use as $651 with a rate of $32.55

After Bill in dollar and cents Joint Use of $651.40 with a rate of $32.57

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Major Process Changes

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Timing of data as approached billing Synchronization of data Coordination of efforts across multiple applications April 27, 2020 18

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Interdependent Workflow

1

Final OA

2

Accepted by STAR

3

Inventory and Lease updates

4

Billing Module Interface (BMI) data

5

Billing Updates for OAs and Billing Adjustments

6

Billing Updates for CBRs and Last Billing Period table

Occupancy Agreement (OA) Billing 19

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Executing Processes

• •

Focused Meetings

– – – –

Developer Integrated Project Team (IPT) Business Line Progress Test Status Meetings (less than 1 hour)

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Week 1 Developer Week 2

30-min Developer

30-min IPT 20

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Monitoring and Control Processes

• •

Integrated Change Control

Well established Risk Monitoring and Control

Massive re-organization in progress

Program Manager assigned to training 1 week per month 21

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Executing Processes Surprises

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Applications that used the data Training budget zeroed Contracts scheduled to end 3 weeks before implementation 22

Acceptance Testing

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April 9-17 Shutdown

Ran billing in prior mode

Implemented releases and new application Communicated rationale for shutdown

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National user telcons Notices Notification of Loss of Access

2 weeks, 1 week, 1 day Way points and Go-No Decision Daily am meetings w/options for afternoon Distribute meeting minutes within 3 hours April 27, 2020 23

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Approval

- Billing Implemented

• •

On schedule $610 M bill

Difference in systems was less than $1,600

No increase in helpdesk calls 24

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Applications Effected

• • • • •

8 national applications 20 downstream applications Revenue Budgeting Finance 25

Adages and Lessons Learned

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April 27, 2020 Critical mass of expertise and determination If you publish it, they will not necessarily come Requirements may not = needs Publishing <> communications

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Be sensitive to words Communicate across multiple levels Someone will not get the word Limit communication to first two degrees 26

Adages and Lessons Learned

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Your success may be a problem for others Schedules help Meetings

Short and focused

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Agenda Read ahead material no more than 1 page Regular basis - same day/and time Minutes Discuss workflow expectation early Keep other applications in mind Expect – and address - changes April 27, 2020 27

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Summary

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Start early Meetings on a regular basis Hold side meetings to focus on issues

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Meeting minutes Meeting minutes Meeting minutes Expect – and address - changes Communicate across multiple levels 28