DCL-00-107, Federal Offset Program System Modernization

DCL-00-107 OCT 26, 2000

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Federal Offset Program System Modernization

Dear Colleague:

The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) has initiated a modernization of the Federal Offset system. The purpose of the system modernization is to redesign the existing Federal Offset system, improve the system's performance and better meet the business requirements without negatively impacting collections.

The Federal Offset system was originally designed in 1982 to process Federal tax refund offsets for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and non-TANF delinquent child support cases. With the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) and the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA) of 19961996, the Federal Offset Program expanded to include Administrative Offset, Passport Denial and Multistate Financial Institution Data Match (MSFIDM). In addition, in 1999, the daily operations of the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program were transferred from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Services (FMS). This entailed short-term changes in OCSE’s interface with FMS that both OCSE and State staff believe should be revised for the long-term benefit of the program. The modernization initiative will incorporate the expansion of the Federal Offset Program and the system enhancements needed to ensure the continued success to the program.

OCSE is establishing a workgroup composed of both State and Federal child support enforcement staff to support the modernization project. The purpose of the workgroup is to support the requirements, analysis and design effort, including defining the business requirements of the new system. OCSE is seeking volunteers for the workgroup from which no more than twenty staff members from State IV-D agencies will be selected. The group will include at least one State representative from each ACF Federal Region. OCSE will select workgroup members to ensure they come from States representing a cross-section of characteristics, including:

County-based and State-based operations
State caseload size
Age of current State system
Family of Systems (e.g., NECSES, InRhodes, FACES, Delaware based)
Representatives from different areas of expertise: technical, program, management & policy

Beginning December 2000, OCSE will conduct two preparatory conference calls to introduce workgroup members and define the current Federal Offset Program and process to form a baseline for the modernization effort. OCSE plans to hold two workgroup meetings in the upcoming year, the first an initial face-to-face kick-off meeting planned for January or February 2001.

This meeting will be followed by weekly teleconferences to establish system requirements, which we estimate will take about four months. A second face-to-face meeting will be held later in the year. After the system requirements are established, monthly teleconferences will be held during the analysis and design phases. OCSE will send workgroup members an agenda and necessary material prior to each conference call to allow participants time to prepare.

The active participation and commitment of workgroup members is crucial to the success of the modernization effort. They should plan to attend the teleconferences and the two face-to-face meetings, which will be held at locations to be determined.

In addition, workgroup participants will be responsible for the following:

Serve as the spokesperson for their State and Region and communicate comments, questions and feedback
Investigate and provide detail on current State processes or issues
Review and comment on any documentation and be prepared for conference calls and meetings

Since participation in the workgroup requires a substantial amount of time and resources, the approval for the State's nominee(s) to participate should come through the IV-D Director's office.

If you are interested in nominating a representative from your State, please complete and sign the attached form and fax to (202) 401-5553, attention Roy Nix, Chief, Federal Collections Branch, by November 13, 2000.

Your support and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we work together to ensure the continued success of the Federal Offset Program and improve the lives of our nation’s children.

Sincerely,

David Gray Ross
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Attachment

cc: Regional Program Managers
ACF Regional Administrators
Federal Offset Coordinators

Workgroup Nomination/Contact Fax Sheet