Project Description

<Briefly describe the project background, if applicable.>

The purpose of this project is to develop an approved design and implementation plan for electronic reporting system(s) eSignature, as well as establishing a template and process for future eSignature initiatives. During the Electronic Reporting Planning Workshop held in July 2007, it was determined that an approved design and implementation plan for electronic reporting eSignature would be of significant benefit to multiple regions. This project will review the requirements of the Agency's eSignatures policy and procedural directive, evaluate existing methods and procedures, develop at least one (and possibly two) approaches for implementing eSignatures for electronic reporting, and shepherd the approaches(s) through the approval process.

This proposal anticipates working collaboratively with the National Permits System (NPS) implementation team as they develop an approved eSignature approach for online permit applications and maintenance, as well as with one or more eLogbook initiatives to develop an approved eSignature approach for electronic vessel logbooks. Since requirements have not been specified and analyzed it is not clear whether these different eSignature applications will require different design approaches. However, there certainly will be some commonality, and a collaborative approach that considers the two eSignature applications in parallel will give us maximum opportunity to recognize and exploit commonalities and to learn from the differences.

Note that the NPS project has its own development resources and timeline. The decision to approve or reject this proposal should not affect the NPS project. However, this proposal will develop an eSignature design for one or more eLogbook initiatives. It is also the intent of this proposal to leverage all NMFS eSignature efforts, generalize the approaches to the extent possible, and provide model designs and approval documents to make it reasonably easy to address future eSignature applications as they are identified.

Note also that this project is all about a planning, design, and plan approval exercise, and this project does not specify a complete development process resulting in implemented production systems. Of course a development process (and/or procurement) is eventually intended, but it will be considered separately. (An NPS eSignature implementation is already funded within the NPS project. Plans for implementation of further eSignature components will be easier to make once design and approval documents are complete.)

Objectives

The following lists the major objectives to be accomplished by this project in FY08:

Complete the policy, procedures, design and approval tasks to enable electronic signatures for eLogbook initiatives
Collaborate with NPS project in design, approval and implementation of electronic signatures for online permitting
Establish standards for the enrollment and authentication of eSignature participants