Attachment 3 - Specs for DTR PACTS Interface.pdf
PDF 194 KB Posted
- Attached to
- National On-Site Drug Testing Laboratory
- Solicitation number
- USCA25R0183
- Issued by
-
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
About this file
Attachment 3 is a technical specification document for the Drug Test Results (DTR) Component of the Probation and Pretrial Case Tracking System (PACTS), detailing the electronic interface requirements between the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and On-Site Testing Laboratories (OTL). The specification outlines a secure file transfer process using SFTP, where OTLs will create ASCII text files containing drug test results that are periodically downloaded to the Administrative Office's server, with strict requirements for file naming, directory structure, and SSH configuration.
The document provides comprehensive technical specifications for four record types: Header Record, Results Record, Validity Test Record, and Comments Record, each with defined fields, maximum lengths, and data requirements. The system is transitioning from a legacy PACTS to PACTS360, requiring contractors to provide simultaneous support for both systems to ensure a seamless transition. The interface is designed to track drug tests and results for pretrial services and probation offices, with emphasis on data security, unique file identification, and maintaining the existing chain of custody for drug testing processes.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| USCA25R0183_0001 - National DRUG LAB RFP 4.30.pdf | ||
| ATTACHMENT 5 - QUESTIONS AND RESPONSE.pdf | ||
| Attachment 1 - National Drug Lab Price Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 2 - Laboratory locations.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| USCA25R0183 - National DRUG LAB RFP 4.23 FINAL.pdf | ||
| Attachment 2 - Laboratory locations.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 1 - National Drug Lab Price Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 4 - Equipment and Reagent Requirements.pdf |
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Text version
Solicitation No: USCA25R0183 Attachment 3
SPECIFICATIONS FOR
PROBATION AND PRETRIAL CASE TRACKING SYSTEM (PACTS) DRUG
TESTING RESULTS (DTR) COMPONENT
ON-SITE LABORATORY(S) INTERFACE
The Drug Test Results Component (DTR) of the Federal Judiciary’s Probation and Pretrial Case Tracking System (PACTS) tracks drug tests and drug test results in support of pretrial services and probation offices within the U.S. Court system. DTR employs an electronic interface with the On-Site Testing Laboratories (OTL) to automatically receive and process results of tests performed by the OTL. The Federal Judiciary is replacing its current PACTS system (Legacy PACTS) with a new national workflow-based client management system called PACTS360.
National implementation of PACTS360 will be in incremental stages, or “waves.” Throughout the transition, the contractor shall provide dual support for both the legacy PACTS and PACTS360 systems simultaneously. The contractor shall transition its interface to the PACTS360 system and provide comprehensive support for both the interface and information technology aspects. The requirement to support both Legacy PACTS and PACTS360 safeguards a seamless transition between systems, minimizing disruptions to daily operations and providing accurate and secure data migration, while ensuring no critical information is lost or compromised during the transition process. All interface and information technology support related to this transition shall be included in the fixed price-per-test cost.
The DTR interface is maintained in addition to the normal chain of custody processing of drug tests and does not alter that existing process.
I. DTR Interface Description
The OTL creates a flat file (ASCII text in “,” delimited fields) containing test results from one or more tests. This file is placed in a secure directory accessible to the internet. DTR uses the secure file transfer program sftp to periodically poll this directory and download files found there to a predetermined directory on the Administrative Office's (AO) server.
The OTL system shall run a version of SSH2 (for example, SSH from SSH Communication Security Corp, or Open SSH) that supports the SSH-2 protocol and is configured to operate as the sftp-server.
The OTL system shall provide a separate home directory and several subdirectories for up to 94 districts. Each district will have its own identity, validated by a public key provided by the AO.
The OTL shall ensure that each test results file placed in a district's home directory on the OTL computer has a unique filename (at least within that district's domain), and this uniqueness shall be assured even if there are multiple testing labs. To achieve this, the filename shall consist of a contained barcode number followed by a 2-digit sequence number, starting with 01, which is incremented if the file needs to be resent for any reason. Thus, the filename will have a "nine-dot-two" format.
The processing steps are as follows:
1. OTL puts test results files into the OTL ./ (home) directory assigned to the originating district .
2. DTR, via sftp, checks OTL ./ directory no less than every two hours during standard operating business days for files to download; however, this may be customized based on district lab needs and operating hours.
3. DTR makes list of results files from OTL ./ directory.
4. FOR EACH results file in OTL ./ directory:
a. DTR copies results file from the OTL computer to local directory.
b. DTR processes results file.
c. DTR deletes results file from the home directory on the OTL computer.
5. If processing is successful, the district copies the results file to the ./good directory on the OTL computer. If unsuccessful, the results file is copied to the ./bad directory on the OTL computer.
6. OTL systems or personnel shall periodically monitor the ./good and ./bad directories assigned to each district. Good files may be removed as desired; bad files shall be retained until the problems are resolved. It will be the responsibility of district court personnel to contact designated OTL personnel when problems are detected in PACTS.
II. File Formats
The following tables describe the file format the OTL creates to transfer drug test results back to districts. Each file contains one data set consisting of up to four types of records, determined by the Record Type field in the first column. Each set of records reporting on a single specimen shall begin with “BEGIN DATA SET” on a separate line, and end with “END DATA SET” on a separate line. Lines appearing before the start token or after the end token are ignored.
Record types within a data set shall appear in numerical order. There shall be no blank lines between records within a data set. Each record consists of a set of commas (",") delimited strings, variable length with maximum length as specified below. Delimiters shall be placed at the end of each string position except at the end of a record, that is, a record with “ f “ fields shall contain f-1 delimiters. Empty fields may contain zero or one spaces. End of line marker may be either a single linefeed or a return/linefeed combination.
Record Type 1 (Header Record)
FIELD MAX.
LENGTH
TYPE DESCRIPTION COMMENTS
Record Type 01 Char "1" = Header Shall be exactly one per data set Bar code Number
15 Char The OTL Specimen Number: up to 15 characters
Required, from chain of custody form
Account Number
10 Char 8 digits plus 1 or 2 alphas
Required, from chain of custody form
PACTS No 11 Char Up to 9 digits Required, from chain of custody form Last Name 40 Char Donor last name, truncate if necessary Required, from chain of custody form
Officer Initials
04 Char From chain of custody form Note 3 Note: Official Initials field is currently not loaded into the PACTS application
Collector Name
40 Char Collector name, truncate if necessary
From chain of custody form Note 3 Note: Collector Name field is currently not loaded into the PACTS application
Collect Date 06 Date mm/dd/yyyy format Required, from chain of custody form;
Note: A value of "000000" is translated to the current date when loaded into
PACTS
Received Date
06 Date mm/dd/yyyy format Date received at laboratory; optional
Reported Date
06 Date mm/dd/yyyy format Date results are posted; optional
Overall Result
01 Char P = At least one valid positive
If P or N, shall find at least one type 2 record.
Record Type 1 (Header Record)
FIELD MAX.
LENGTH
TYPE DESCRIPTION COMMENTS
N = No positives, at least one valid negative X = No tests were performed—use comments record for reason
Record Type 2 (Results Record)
FIELD MAX
LENGTH
TYPE DESCRIPTION COMMENTS
Record Type 01 Char "2" = Results Shall be at least one for each drug;
optional for Overall Result = "X" (no test) Note 1
Bar code Number
15 Char The OTL Specimen Number:
up to 15 characters
Shall match barcode in header
Drug Class 50 Char Drug Class of test performed From supplied list of drug names
Analyte 50 Char Component Drug test From supplied list of drug names;
Note 2
Result Data 15 Char Quantitative or additional result data
Optional Note: Result Data field is currently not loaded into the PACTS application
Result 01 Char P, N, X, *. (P = Positive, N = Negative, X = No Test—use comments record for reason; * = discrete result not applicable)
Required
Record Type 3 (VALIDITY TEST Record) Note 4
Field Max Length
Type Description Comments
Record Type 01 Char "3" = Validity Test Shall be exactly one per data set
Bar code Number
15 Char The OTL Specimen Number: up to 15 characters
Shall match barcode in header
Creatinine 2 Char NO/SU/DI Required; Normal/Substituted/Dilute
Sp Gravity 2 Char NO/SU/DI/AD Required;
Normal/Substituted/Invalid/Dilute pH 2 Char NO/AD Required; Normal/Adulterated
Adulterants 50 Char Blank=no adulterants found Note: Adulterants field is currently not loaded into the PACTS application
Certifying Scientist
50 Char Truncate if necessary Optional Note: Adulterants field is currently not loaded into the PACTS application
Record Type 4 (Comments Record)
Field Max Length
Type Description Comments
Record Type 01 Char "4" = Comments One for each line of comments within a data set Note: Comments are optional
Bar code Number
15 Char The OTL Specimen Number: up to 15 characters
Shall match barcode in header
Comment Text
255 Char Comment text; comments spanning multiple records need not break on word boundary
Note 1: If the overall result reported in the header record is 'P' or 'N', then there shall be at least one result record for each drug test requested on the chain of custody form, including each drug contained within a requested test panel. A requested test may result in two result records if screening and confirmation tests involve different analytes. If the overall result is 'X' (no valid tests could be performed) then result records are optional.
Note 2: Drug class and analyte shall be taken from National Drug Analysis Drug Names for Automated Reporting supplied with the governing contract. If a test is performed that cannot be assigned names from this list, do not transmit that result. If a class containing multiple drugs (e.g. Amphetamines, Opiates) tests negative it shall be reported using a single record that includes Drug Class and Result (Analyte not allowed).
Note 3: These fields are required if data is captured and available for export, else optional (leave blank).
Note 4: This record is not required if a valid test cannot be performed.
III. SSH Configuration
SSH Secure Shell protocol suites are available from several sources and can be installed on a variety of platforms. Once installed, the ssh daemon should be run by root and should be running at all times. Firewalls should be configured to allow use of port 22.
The ssh configuration file should include settings consistent with the following (keywords may vary for specific implementations):
Port 22 ListenAddress 0.0.0.0 # or specific interface Ciphers AnyStd IdentityFile identification AuthorizationFile authorization HostKeyFile hostkey PublicHostKeyFile hostkey.pub RandomSeedFile random_seed LoginGraceTime 5 ForwardAgent no AllowedAuthentications publickey,password PasswordGuesses 3 PermitEmptyPasswords no MaxConnections 0 PermitRootLogin no IgnoreRhosts yes subsystem-sftp sftp-server
IV. Directory Structure
The OTL sftp server shall comprise a set of user accounts, one for each district. There is a maximum of 94 districts; of these, some do not use OTL services and thus do not require an account on the sftp server. Account names shall be of the form "usppcccc" where cccc is the 4-character district code. Three additional accounts with names uspp0000, uspp0001, and uspp0002 shall be maintained which can be used by Testing Laboratory and Administrative Office personnel for testing purposes.
The following directory descriptions employ Unix conventions; a non-Unix system shall provide equivalent functionality.
Each user account shall have a home directory (here represented by ~/ ) with the following subdirectories:
~/.ssh2 ~/bad ~/good
The ~/.ssh2 subdirectory shall be given permissions 700 or rwx------ (root and account owner may read/write/execute, all others have no access). The home, bad, and good subdirectories shall be given permissions 750, or rwxr-x--- (root and account owner may read/write/execute, group pacts may read/execute, all others have no access). Any users or processes responsible for writing test results files will require access as account owner. The Testing Laboratory may assign to group pacts any other users responsible for monitoring or managing test results files.
Since the ~/.ssh2 subdirectories will be storing plaintext public keys (at least in Unix-based implementations), every reasonable security precaution shall be taken to prevent unauthorized access. These subdirectories should reside on local disk and not be allowed to traverse the network via SMB or NFS, and they should not be included in backup tapes.
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