Attachment_16_-_Existing_System_Information.pdf

ATTACHMENT 4

Existing System Information

BCV SYSTEM INFORMATION

The tools in this section, both the BCV Applications and TRMD Tools, are considered Legacy BCV for the purpose of the solicitation.

BCV Applications BCV is made up of the following applications:

1. Actuarial Calculation Toolkit (ACT)

ACT is a collection of four components used to calculate and value PBGC benefits:

a. Valuation Spreadsheet Tool (ValTool) - Copies data from the Valuation Database into the Valuation Spreadsheet and copies the calculation results from the spreadsheet to the database

b. Excel Add-ins - coded algorithms available within the spreadsheet

c. ACT Design – Used by Actuary to design Benefit Statements

d. ACT Runtime – Used by EBLSs, FBAs, and PVAs to generate statements as participants retire

e. DOPT Report System (DRS) – Used by Actuary to design customized Listings

2. Archive

Archive Access is the permanent storage location of OBA's valuation-related electronic files to include the Benefit Statement and Recalculation program, memos, listings, actuarial valuation spreadsheets, standalone spreadsheets, etc. Archive Access is also used to store source documents for Plan Assumption, Asset Evaluation and Participant Data Review. FBA staff use Archive Access for the primary purpose of generating Benefit Statements and Recalculations for plan participants.

Archive Utility is the tool used by TRMD to manage the archive (i.e., store the abovementioned electronic files in Archive Access and grant access to the FBA staff via the TRMD developed MS- Access based “FBA Transfer Tool”).

Approximately 3,000 archived Benefit Recalculation programs shall eventually be migrated to New BCV. PBGC is open to alternatives proposed by Offeror regarding the disposition of the software through which users gain access to these programs (Archive Access and Archive Utility) or whether the need for a separate archive will still exist once all information is in a consolidated location.

3. ATPBGC Add-In

ATPBGC Add-in is an Excel add-in that provides PBGC custom actuarial functions for Excel.

Actuaries programming cases in Legacy BCV use these functions. The ATPBGC Add-in model consists of three DLLs (ACTFUN32.dll, NPVFV232.dll, and PIA32.dll) written in C++, a VBA module (ATPBGC2007.xlam) that wraps the DLLs so they can be called from Excel, and a Microsoft Access database (ATPBGC97.accdb) that contains data used in the calculations, such as mortality and interest rates tables. ATPBGC Add-in is used by Actuaries, Auditors, and other staff throughout the agency outside of ACT.

4. Payment Adjustment Calculation System (PACS) and Batch PACS

PACS is a web-based calculation tool with an interface with the Enterprise Database. OBA’s Benefit Administration staff uses PACS to determine (1) the refund owed to under paid participants, (2) the amount PBGC will recoup from overpaid participants, and (3) benefits payable under PBGC optional forms.

PBGC subsequently developed Batch PACS to perform refund and recoupment calculations described above for large groups of participants. The primary input to Batch PACS is ledger data from both the PBGC Enterprise Database and more problematically, the payment system(s) used by the prior paying agent between the DOPT and the Plan Assumption (DOTR) date. TRMD developed the ad hoc, MS Access -based “Batch PACS Data Load Tool” to partially automate the transfer of this data into the PACS database.

5. Automated Data Transfer (ADT)

ADT is a Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6) application that uses both Data Access Objects and the advanced Active X features inherent to the VB6 (SR 3) architecture. ADT uses the completed Valuation Database created using ACT by Actuaries from ASD or contract actuarial organizations.

ADT inspects the input database for missing and errant data, and outputs a MS Access database to the same directory that contains the pension plan's original database. It is also used to output reports that include summary information and data validation results that include description and consequence for each error, warning and FYI identified. ADT creates CSV files that are used to load valuation results to the Genesis corporate database.

TRMD Tools TRMD developed several ad hoc tools for analyzing and formatting data from the Valuation Database in preparation for loading it into the Enterprise Database via the Spectrum/Genesis suite of tools (described below). The name and description of each tool is provided below:

1. Leo - Microsoft Access application used as the Valuation Database Construction Tool (VDCT) that provides a framework for building participant databases using the same data model that is required by ACT. Data is manually or electronically entered through Leo’s GUI where it can be edited, reviewed, validated, and reconciled before it is delivered to ACT. Leo allows users to define data elements for the case and design customized data entry forms and validations. Leo also includes functionality used by the database analysts to audit the data for a case.

2. Pre-Trusteeship Data Viewer (PDV) - Collection of MS Access files used by case processing staff, ongoing administration, and appeals personnel to view & search customer data provided to PBGC for some cases.

3. Net Present Value Factor (NPVF) Calculator - MS Access standalone tool used to produce present value factors, early and late retirement factors and form conversion factors. The tool allows users to produce factors by selecting calculation methods, searching for or selecting mortality tables and interest settings, etc. The outputs of this tool can be either a PDF report listing the calculated factor and the various options used to create it, or a table of factors in an Excel spreadsheet accompanied by a PDF.

4. AGGMAX Tool - MS Access file used to query the Enterprise Database to identify customers in a given plan who are participants in multiple PBGC-trusteed plans and are potentially subject to the aggregate maximum limit.

5. Software Closeout - MS Access tool used to reconcile and validate data that is in the case Access database and the Enterprise Database. It also allows discrepancies to be displayed and shared with the case Actuary. The tool is also used to populate the Case_Cust_ID from the Enterprise Database for each record which is needed to create the PCL files that are loaded to the Customer Correspondence System (CCS).

6. Conversion Project for Optional Forms of Annuity (OFA) Tool - MS Access file used to compare Valuation Databases against the Enterprise Database to determine the scope of required ACT programming updates needed for the case. This MS Access file, which contains the results of the comparison, is archived along with the updated ACT software. Users currently access the tool by copying the latest version.

7. Plan Download - MS Access tool used to extract participant census, valuation, payment and address information from the Enterprise Database schemas for a given case.

8. Plan Closing - MS Access Tool that generates a report used to verify that valuation information stored in the Enterprise and Valuation Database tables for a given case is correct and complete at the time the Plan Completion Memo is submitted to Ongoing Administration.

9. ValPatch - MS Access file used to correctly format the data in the spreadsheet that will be used to create letters to customers. It offers options to exclude customers (i.e. annualized and deceased) prior to creating the two files (groupraw.txt and idlraw.txt) that are required to load the data into CCS.

OTHER SYSTEM INFORMATION

1. Image Viewer - Document imaging and file management system for both plan and participant documents and information. Through Image Viewer, PBGC users can view and download these documents.

2. Customer Correspondence System (CCS) - Generates letters (including Benefit Determination Letters (BDLs)) for a participant or a group of participants and merges data obtained from the PBGC Enterprise Database into the letters. TRMD imports Benefit Statements (produced by the existing benefit calculation system) into CCS so the statements can be included as attachments to some BDLs and other letters.

3. My Pension Benefit Account (MyPBA) - Secure web-based application that provides participants the ability to update personal data, banking, or tax information and designate a beneficiary.

4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - Manages telephone, paper mail, e-mail, fax, or walk-in interactions with external customers. For benefit calculations, its role is limited. The CRM user logs a request for a benefit calculation into the system and forwards it to the FBA and PVA office for processing. The FBA and PVA personnel use the existing benefit calculation software to perform the calculation and provide the information to the participant.

5. Integrated Present Value of Future Benefits System (IPVFB) - Valuation system used as the basis for PBGC’s financial reporting that determines the actuarial present value of future benefits (PVFB) and expenses that PBGC may be obligated to pay. For finalized plans that are “IPV-ready,” the system values future benefits on a participant-by-participant (seriatim) basis.

All other plans are valued on a plan-by-plan (non-seriatim) basis. PBGC’s Annual Report includes these results. Since IPVFB obtains most of its data from the PBGC Enterprise Database, there is no direct interface between IPVFB and the existing benefit calculation system. However, critical data (including certain valuation results) must be transferred from the benefit calculation system to the Enterprise Database to enable IPVFB to accurately value liabilities. Data from Legacy BCV Valuation Database is also loaded to the IPVFB Supplemental Table via a utility that is part of the IPVFB system. TRMD archive staff use the utility to transfer data to a staging area from Legacy BCV Valuation Database and then, from there, IPVFB Actuaries review the data and finalize the load to the IPVFB Supplemental Table.

6. User Provisioning Tool (UPT) - The UPT application enables designated PBGC personnel to provision application accounts for federal employees and contractors. It allows the system administrators to maintain a role structure to regulate access to computer or network resources based on the predefined job categories or roles for all subscribed applications. This information is stored within the Case Management System (CMS) database and the data is also synchronized directly with PBGC's Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) services (Active Directory).

PBGC is currently planning for transition to an enterprise provisioning tool and expects UPT to be decommissioned in three to five years.

7. Artis - Application that tracks and manages appeals of benefit determinations and associated actions such as extension requests, and related correspondence. This application queries the Enterprise Database to capture existing information about the Participant.

8. PBGC Enterprise Database/Enterprise Database/Spectrum - Encompasses the collection of software including Spectrum, Genesis, GENOWN and SPECOWN. Informal PBGC lingo often uses these terms interchangeably. Spectrum is the suite of applications used to pay benefits and process other life events (deaths, marriages, etc.). Genesis is the Oracle database containing Spectrum data. GENOWN and SPECOWN are names of Oracle instances within Genesis. The Enterprise Database does NOT include the ACT Valuation database. New BCV shall accommodate the data reconciliation process internally, thus relieving OBA of the need to use a separate application. Spectrum also contains utilities for loading external data (basic customer data, payment data, and valuation results).

Other System INFORMATION