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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

NAVY STANDARD INTEGRATED PERSONNEL SYSTEM (NSIPS)

	Navy ACAT IAM Program Total program cost (TY$) $118M Life cycle cost (TY$) $470M Full rate production (IOC) 4QFY98 Prime Contractor Lockheed Martin

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

NSIPS will consolidate the Navy active, reserve, and retired personnel field source data collection systems, both ashore and afloat. The objective is to produce a standard single point of entry system for all personnel and pay information. NSIPS will replace the personnel and pay functionality of four separate legacy systems: Reserve Standard Training, Administration, and Readiness Support (Manpower and Personnel) (RSTARS [MP]), Source Data Systems (SDS), Uniform Microcomputer Disbursing System (UMIDS), and Diary Message Reporting System (DMRS). The primary interface for NSIPS will be the Defense Finance and Accounting System (DFAS).

The architecture for NSIPS is currently in the design phase. The initial plan is for a client-server architecture with information held at the local level as well as at regional data servers. A headquarters-level, "all NSIPS," data base for survey purposes is also envisioned. Personnel and pay transactions must first be verified by the appropriate corporate-level system (e.g., DFAS) before being posted to the data base of record at the regional personnel offices.

Since NSIPS will help collate and collect personnel information as well as provide automated tools for data retrieval (e.g., automated search and query), NSIPS supports the Joint Vision 2010 paradigm by providing commanders up-to-date and easy to locate information on the strength of their forces.

Prior to Milestone II (expected 2QFY98), the program developed a prototype to prove out the planned architecture and look and feel of the graphical user interface. PeopleSoft was selected as the basic human resource software package. Customization was accomplished and Navy requirements implemented with the help of a panel of personnelists, who had much experience with the legacy systems.

An OA on the prototype was conducted in August and September 1997. The assessment consisted of executing two scenarios involving an active duty sailor and a reservist, respectively. Functions exercised included accessions, gains, losses, maintenance of personnel and pay account information, and data transfer (simulated) among local, regional, and corporate-level systems.

The report from the operational test agency (COMOPTEVFOR) and DOT&E analysis showed the system as potentially operationally effective and suitable and recommended continued system development. However, the testers found several areas in which the graphical user interface could be better designed to serve the needs of the Navy.

The TEMP and Operational Requirements Document are in the process of being updated for the MS II decision.

To date the Navy has not stated operational performance criteria in terms of the improvement in business practices expected by the implementation of NSIPS. The testers made many sound observations which were in the areas of business practice design, codification, and modification. Since the system is being designed with these in mind, it behooves the Navy to develop operational requirements reflecting enhanced usability.