Coming Soon: Software Functional Index
Until now, DIR has had no way to help its customers identify software products by functionality. DIR’s customers currently have to know which publishers make the type of product they want, and find it through the “Publisher Index” in the DIR Store. DIR is now moving to increase the value of our commodity purchasing services by enhancing the DIR Store to include a “Functional Index”.
The Functional Index will not list all available software publishers or products by functional area. Rather, an initial set of high-priority functional areas were identified by DIR, working collaboratively with customer focus groups, and guidelines were defined for both the individual functional areas and for statewide interoperability and security best practices. These guidelines will be used as criteria in the evaluation process for publishers or resellers wishing to list their products on the Functional Index.
All products under active contracts with DIR that meet the guidelines for the applicable functional area(s) as well as the statewide interoperability and security guidelines may apply to be listed on the Functional Index (instructions are given below).
For a complete list of software publisher and reseller contracts, visit the Software Publisher Index.
The addition of a Functional Index to the DIR Store will help the customers find key software products by category, and to quickly identify the range of publishers and products offered within a given functional area.
Note: The Functional Index is expected to be populated with an initial set of functional areas and qualified products by Summer 2007.
DIR is committed to making quality products available and easy to find to meet the needs of all sizes of agencies and customers, while fostering greater inter-operability among the smallest and largest entities.
Applying best-practice guidelines for statewide interoperability and security is critical as we move toward a greater reliance on shared and outsourced services. Systems and databases must be inter-operable for state agencies and other DIR customers to meet the needs of our growing constituent populations.
In order to be listed on the Functional Index in the DIR Store, products must meet the statewide best-practice guidelines for interoperability and security in software procurement and development, which include the following five criteria. These criteria will be used to select products for inclusion on the Functional Index:
- Software must run on at least one of the following Operating Systems: Windows, Unix, Linux, OS390, z/OS, z/Linux.
- Software must work with at least one of the following Database Management Systems: Oracle, DB2, Teradata, and/or SQL Server.
- Software must provide either an API and/or standards-based XML / Web Services interface.
- Software must LDAP compliant for user-management.
- Software must have application-level authorization for role-specific privileges.
There may also be additional functional requirements relevant to each functional area that will be used in the evaluation process for the Functional Index. Each Functional Evaluation Form for each functional area will clearly indicate the criteria by which evaluations will be performed.
Once products are selected for inclusion on the Functional Index, vendors may be asked to complete a more detailed technical and architectural questionnaire. Responses will be linked to the Functional Index listing of the product, and are intended to help our customers make purchasing choices based not only on functionality, but on the best fit into their existing architecture and infrastructure.
For Vendors Only: Instructions for Applying to the DIR Store Software Functional Index
- Download the Functional Evaluation Form here. (155 KB, 25 Pages, XLS, Viewer)
- Complete the form and submit as an excel spreadsheet via email to DIR Standards and Architecture.
- For questions contact DIR Standards and Architecturei.
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