7.Transition, Migration and Implementation Risk Analysis

7.Transition, Migration and Implementation Risk Analysis

This section presents Sprint’s view of risk assessment for problem areas that are likely to be encountered during the transition, migration and implementation phases for the FTS2001 Program. The specific problem areas and management risks that have been identified for the FTS2001 Program are addressed in the response to each requirement paragraph that follows this section.

7.1Introduction

Sprint is committed to a continuing program of transition risk assessment throughout the FTS2001 contract. Sprint is also committed to providing its full cooperation to all other GSA and agency contractors to ensure that all FTS2001 transition, migration and implementation activities occur in a timely manner while minimizing impacts on the agency user communities.

Sprint has had almost 10 years of experience in assessing and mitigating, or avoiding, the transition risks inherent in transitioning and migrating government agencies and sites from another vendor’s network to the Sprint network. This process started within Sprint following the issuance of the FTS2000 RFP, throughout the FTS2000 period of performance, and will continue for the duration of the FTS2001 Program.

Our experience has showed that we have not always received the fullest and most timely cooperation from other contractors especially those that stand to lose financially by the transition/migration. We have found that such contractors often use the arcane procedures and planning processes that have found their way into contracts to effectively disrupt what would be a standard process in the commercial world.

Problem identification and risk management deal with the Government's and Sprint’s collective concerns regarding the capability of the designed system and the attendant processes and procedures to achieve the program's performance objectives. Sprint performs risk analysis to identify what could go wrong, quantify the associated risk, assess the effect of the risk on the program, and develop a productive solution to either avoid the situation or to minimize its effect on our ability to achieve the desired result in a timely fashion.

7.2Risk Areas and Mitigation Approaches

Sprint is committed to the successful mitigation of all risks involved with providing FTS2001 services to the entire complement of government agency users.We fully recognize that a network transition as complex and large as the FTS2001 network has inherent risks that can, if they are not anticipated and avoided or mitigated, threaten the success of the venture. To identify these areas of risk Sprint developed Table 7-1.

X

X

In addition to identifying risks, Table 7-1 describes how Sprint intends to mitigate these risks to ensure a successful FTS2001 transition and/or migration while assuring service continuity and quality to customer agency users at all levels of the organization. The items identified as potential risks may be programming, engineering, or systems management-related. The risk analysis and management processes are tailored to the Government’s requirements and unique concerns.

Accompanying each Functional Area Risk in Table 7-1, Sprint has provided an assessment of the risk factor (Low, Medium, or High), and proposed detailed approaches to minimize the overall risk involved assuming, of course, that Sprint is performing the transition and/or migration services. Risk levels are defined as:

• Low - Will have a minor effect on the program and will not cause major concern.
• Medium - Will adversely affect program objectives. The probability of occurrence will be sufficiently high to require close control of contributing factors and establishing acceptable alternative positions.
• High - Will have a significant adverse impact on the program. Alternative action plans will be mandatory for risks falling in this category.

7.3Approach To Minimization Of Operational Impacts

There is little or no risk in transitioning most of the existing Network B FTS2000 services to the FTS2001 contract. There will be no down time, service disruptions or extra business impacts for these services because the Sprint-provided customer premise equipment will remain in place. Also, the Sprint existing inside wiring with access to the Sprint network will remain in place. As a result, current Network B customers that stay with Sprint will enjoy immediate FTS2001 management and business benefits.

There is some risk in transitioning services in the twelve-month target time frame when those services are mission sensitive. For example, if a transition of IRS 800 services is required, the IRS will require transition activities to be completed before or after the tax season, (i.e., before January 1 or after April 30).

Other agency unique situations are likely to exist, too. In addition, the looming Year 2000 date change issue is likely to appear to cause FTS2001 service interruption problems. From Sprint’s perspective these issues, while they properly should be classified as risks to the FTS2001 Program, are most likely to be caused by user agency application software rather than any Sprint-related FTS2001 issues. Notwithstanding, Sprint’s mitigation approach will be to deal with these issues by means of a speedy analysis response designed to help the user agency eliminate Sprint’s FTS2001 services from consideration as even a potential cause. By this means, Sprint will allow the agency to concentrate on other areas for the ultimate resolution of the problem.

7.4Management Approach To Risk Management

The FTS2001 Program Director is responsible for risk management. Sprint's approach to risk management requires that risk analyses begin when an RFP is issued or, at latest, at program initiation. This process requires that potential problem areas be thoroughly analyzed, have accurate risk levels assigned, have pre-developed alternative courses of action, and receive the required degree of management oversight.

While it is prudent to try to identify risks in advance, it is equally important to have a continuing program for identifying new risks and mitigation approaches and accessioning them to the program’s Risk Assessment Plan. Sprint will do this to assure that we are using the lessons learned by one transition/migration team to inform the next of not only the issue areas but also the appropriate mitigation approaches.

The first phase of the risk management process is to ensure that the functional groups supporting the FTS2001 Program provide maximum identification of potential risk areas. Sprint then compares the program requirements with the planned transition, migration and implementation solution, so that potential problem areas will be identified. In the second phase Sprint quantifies the potential for success in resolving each issue. This leads to determining the level of risk posed by each area of concern. Determining the level of risk (i.e., Low, Medium, or High) will ensure that the program management staff exercises the proper degree of management control. This control will monitor the issue and to ensure that appropriate alternative action plans are developed and implemented to minimize operational and budgetary impacts to the FTS2001 Program and its agency users.

Sprint offers a single vendor solution to the Government for planning, provisioning, installing, operating, and maintaining the FTS2001 products and services. Sprint will lift the burden of management from the Government to integrate the management of the multiple vendor services required for FTS2001 by providing a single, reliable telecommunication system. The FTS2001 Program Management principles that will influence the day-to-day operations of Sprint and its subcontractors offer a leadership approach capable of successfully directing all work tasks needed to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction. The risk assessment methodology will provide the Government with a clear picture of the areas Sprint and its subcontractors have targeted as potential problems or management risks. Sprint’s recommended solutions will alleviate or minimize the identified risks.

Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this proposal.2-AppD-1

Revised November 30, 1998