Fiscal Year 2012 User Fees for FPLS and CSENet
DCL-11-19
DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER
DCL-11-19
DATE: October 24, 2011
TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS
RE: Fiscal Year 2012 User Fees for FPLS and CSENet
Dear Colleague:
This letter is to inform you of the annual user fees that each state will be assessed for use of the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) and the Child Support Enforcement Network (CSENet) for federal fiscal year (FY) 2012. Enclosed are summaries of your state’s fees.
Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is authorized to recover costs incurred in furnishing FPLS information at rates determined by the Secretary to be reasonable. These fees recover only a portion of OCSE’s costs for operating, maintaining, and upgrading the FPLS and for implementing new capabilities to support the mission of the child support program.
Over the past six years, the Continuous Service Improvements initiative has brought about many new tools and increased efficiencies of existing tools for establishing and enforcing child support obligations. In FY 2011, OCSE awarded a new contract for operations and maintenance of FPLS systems and to continue development and enhancement activities. Under this new contract, OCSE will reduce spending on development activities, resulting in a decrease in state FPLS fees during FY 2012. This reduced fee was also reflected in the fourth quarter of FY 2011, which you will see included in the attached fee summary.
During FY 2012, OCSE will continue to expand and enhance the services provided by the State Services Portal, and will devote many of its resources to improving the overall telecommunications network. In addition to the existing services provided through the portal, including QUICK and e-IWO, OCSE plans to develop electronic interfaces for sending the National Medical Support Notice and exchanging interstate documents. Your state’s share of costs related to interstate telecommunications initiatives are included in the annual CSENet fee for which states will receive Federal Financial Participation reimbursement at the rate of 66%.
The FPLS and CSENet fees are allocated based on each state’s IV-D caseload average for the most recent six-year period for which final data are available as reported on the OCSE-157 report.
Since all states have the opportunity to participate in all FPLS services, CSENet and other telecommunications systems, benefits should be realized in direct proportion to caseloads and the fees are allocated accordingly.
The FY 2012 FPLS and CSENet user fees are assessed beginning October 1, 2011. These user fees are to be paid on a quarterly basis in equal installments. Each state is to report its FPLS fee charge-back on line 10 and its CSENet fee charge-back on line 11 of Form OCSE-396A. You will continue to receive all fees in a consolidated bill. Fees will automatically be deducted from your state’s quarterly grant.
If you have any questions regarding fees, please contact Linda Deimeke (retired). Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of our nation’s children.
Sincerely,
Vicki Turetsky
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Enclosures
cc: ACF/OCSE Regional Program Managers (w/o enclosures)