AGAR ADVISORY NO. 73
INTRODUCTION: The purpose
of this Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Advisory is to update
information previously issued concerning approval requirements for the purchase
of online courseware libraries and learning management systems or services (LMS).
SUMMARY: USDA
Departmental Regulation (DR) 3620-001, “USDA eLearning Services, Courseware and
Content,” updated the USDA policy on acquisition of online courseware libraries
and LMS established by joint Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief
Information Officer (CIO) memorandum of
SPECIFIC
ISSUES:
·
The USDA
Electronic Learning (eLearning) initiative provides USDA agencies with an
enterprise-wide learning service, known as Agriculture Learning (AgLearn).
·
AgLearn
consolidates existing USDA agency learning needs and eliminates duplicative
learning services.
·
USDA agencies are
required to use AgLearn to the maximum extent possible to deliver online
training, manage training and maintain training records.
·
USDA has entered
into an interagency agreement with OPM to acquire online courseware
libraries. The agreement specifies that
USDA OHRM is USDA’s exclusive ordering agent for online courseware libraries
available from OPM.
· DR 3620-001 delineates the specific policies and procedures applicable to the purchase of online training and related services.
o Purchase of online courseware libraries from sources other than OPM may be made only with the written approval of the Director, OHRM and the CIO.
o Procurement offices shall not process procurement requests for online courseware or LMS unless the request is accomplished by written approval from the Director, OHRM and the CIO.
· Definition of Online Courseware and LMS (DR 3620-001).
o Online courseware are commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) courses that are taken by computer and are available from vendors without customization or changes.
o LMS is information technology hardware, software and services that will be used to provide online training and/or to manage the functions of a training program, such as scheduling classroom training, tracking student training records, issuing training certificates, assessing competencies and planning career development.
§ Departmental Regulation 5039-7, Delegation of
Procurement Authority for Information Technology, dated
“Proposed IT acquisitions and information resources activities must comply with all requirements established by the OCIO. OCIO oversight includes both approving IT investments and monitoring and evaluating the performance of these investments. Requirements include: (1) compliance with the Capital Planning and Investment Control Process; (2) compliance with standards of the USDA Information Systems Technology Architectures; (3) obtaining technical approvals in accordance with DR 3130-1; and (4) compliance with requirements of any prevailing OCIO moratoriums or USDA directives.”
The eLearning initiative, which is part of the USDA eGovernment effort, is under the cognizance of the Associate Chief Information Officer for eGovernment. As such, the requirements for approval of acquisition of online courseware and LMS fall within the requirements of DR 5039-7.
If you have questions regarding this advisory, please
contact Todd Repass, Chief, PPD via email at Todd.Repass@da.usda.gov or by phone
at (202) 690-1060; or send an email to procurement.policy@da.usda.gov.
This advisory is available on the USDA homepage at http://www.usda.gov/procurement/policy/advisories.html.
EXPIRATION DATE: Effective until canceled.
[END]