The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congress are setting ever higher standards for the management and performance of information technology investments within the Federal government. Those standards require a project management and accountability environment where IT projects and IT investments achieve consistently successful outcomes that maximize alignment with business objectives and meet key cost, schedule and performance objectives. In planning IT investments and projects, the following factors need to be considered: strategic and tactical planning, enterprise architecture, IT security, acquisition strategy, records management, CPIC, EPLC, and FITARA.
Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC)*
Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) is the primary IT governance and management methodology at HHS for selecting, managing, and evaluating the performance of IT investments. Adherence to the CPIC Policy ensures that NIH IT investments are selected based on their support of NIH and HHS business needs and mission requirements; that selected investments meet approved cost, schedule, and performance milestones; and that they successfully achieve specified benefits and outcomes throughout the IT Investment life cycle. Appropriate level review boards provide timely oversight of IT investments.
NIH CPIC/IT Budgeting reporting is coordinated by the NIH Office of the CIO (OCIO) in conjunction with the ICs. For more information about the IT Budget, see the NIH OCIO IT Budget page.
The HHS Policy for Information Technology Portfolio Management (PFM)
Enterprise Performance Life Cycle (EPLC)*
The HHS Enterprise Performance Life Cycle (EPLC) Policy provides an enterprise-wide, standard methodology for planning, managing, and overseeing IT projects over their entire life cycle. It establishes ten standard life cycle phases and project and stage gate reviews for IT projects. This policy incorporates the EPLC as a partner to CPIC and HHS Enterprise Architecture.
For information about how EPLC is implemented at NIH, please see the NIH Project Management EPLC page.
HHS Policy for Information Technology Enterprise Performance Life Cycle (EPLC)
Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA)
FITARA covers Chief Information Officer (CIO) authority enhancements, enhanced transparency and improved risk management in information technology investments, Portfolio review, Federal data center consolidation initiative, expansion of training and use of information technology cadres, and maximizing the benefit of the Federal strategic sourcing initiative and Governmentwide software purchasing program.
* Whereas the HHS IT EPLC Policy addresses IT project requirements, the HHS CPIC Policy addresses IT Investments (which may be comprised of one or more IT projects) and IT portfolio management requirements.