Projects

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Automated Commercial Environment

Customs Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is the next generation of technology designed to enhance national border security and expedite lawful trade. It automates and consolidates border processing. The ACE Secure Data Portal is a customized web-based system that connects CBP, the trade community, and participating government agencies in one centralized, on-line access point. An example of the type of applications that are being developed as part of this project is e-manifests for trucking. This requires that all truck carriers entering the United States through land border ports in the states of Michigan and New York file electronic truck manifests as published in the Federal Register.

AEEC has been engaged on this very large application development and integration project since 2002. AEEC has provided senior management support for program execution and coordination across the eCP business partnership. We have provided a wide range of skills and capabilities including Project and Program Management, Middleware Implementation (Tivoli; WebSphere), Technical Support (Tivoli, Application Maintenance, Production Scheduling; Helpdesk), and Administrative Support. We have collected, analyzed, and presented program data (Engineering Processes, Staffing, Action Items, Risks, Issues; Negotiations Preparation) and used this data to define and implement all required SEI-CMM Level 3 business processes and to support decision-making processes.

We have supported the Infrastructure Organization in the collection and consolidation of metrics. The metrics are derived from performance in the following areas: help desk, system performance of environments, network, facilities, security, trouble report tracking, and asset management. We have produced documented processes and procedures in support of the Infrastructure Organization. We have supported the Infrastructure Organization in addressing any software CMM requirements by gathering objective evidence, writing processes, and closing open issues.

Currently, AEEC has 22 resources working full time on the ACE Project. Most of these resources have been on the project for a long period of time and nearly half of them have been recognized by IBM for their contribution and excellent performance. In addition, AEEC was recognized along with IBM in 2003 as the Mentor-Protege Team of the Year for the work on this project. In 2005, AEEC was recognized by the Department of Homeland Security with the Small Business Outstanding Performance Award.

Hill AFB Remediation Systems Engineering Evaluation and Optimization

We are currently providing engineering evaluation, monitoring, and optimization services for the Hill AFB Operable Unit (OU) 4 Horizontal Drain Upgrade System (HDUS), OU 5 Aeration Curtain System (ACS), OU 5 Groundwater Extraction Trench (GWET), OU 6 on-Base Groundwater Containment System (GCS), OU 6 off-Base Craigdale GCS, OU 6 Cooley's Garage Spring Liquid Phase Granular Activated Carbon (LGAC) Treatment System, and OU 12 Base Boundary Hydraulic Containment System (BBHCS). Our services have focused on achieving the design and system objectives. Services have included data collection, performance sampling, meeting discharge requirements, ERPIMS submittals, laboratory analytical data validation, data analysis, historical data review, system rehabilitation, and implementation of recommendations.

Based on the engineering evaluation, we developed methodologies and practices to properly diagnosis and correct system problems. We also developed and implemented recommendations to optimize system performance. We rehabilitated process piping, extraction well pumps, and extraction wells to address existing process and subsurface fouling and to establish optimum system baseline performance. To address the restrictions of the OU 12 conveyance lines, we utilized different chemical treatments until the pipe scaling was removed and optimum flow/pressure measurements attained. We developed a Darcy-Weisbach based System Flow/Pressure Curve Analysis Model to determine the degree of conveyance line occlusion and trigger preventative actions. We designed the retrofit wellhead completion for U12-201 to by-pass the pitless adapter and allow greater access to conveyance piping at the wellhead. We also refined the procedures for mechanical development of extraction wells.

The ability to differentiate between subsurface and process fouling ensures we allocate resources towards the right corrective action and not in futility. The pump retrieval methodology provides a quick, safe, and cost efficient response to deterioration of pump performance over the traditional subcontractor with pump rig approach. Optimization efforts have increased the mass removal rate at the OU 6 on-Base by about 125% and reversed the prior trend of decreasing mass removal. The instantaneous flow rate of the OU 4 upper drain set increased by approximately 85% from 0.7 gpm to 1.3 gpm and the overall system mass removal rate has approximately doubled.

U.S. Forest Service Content Analysis

The scope of work for these projects was to systematically track, categorize, coordinate, summarize, and analyze public comment generated by government land management proposals. A set of forms using Oracle Database as a back-end was utilized to facilitate project data collection. The Oracle Database as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access was utilized by AEEC to track and log information for each comment received on a proposal. Information was stored and made accessible by query on demand. Information tracked and input into the Oracle Database by AEEC included personal information provided by respondents as well as requests for information, comment extension requests, and most importantly information that required early attention by forest officials. All of the information tracked in Oracle was also linked back to the comments submitted by the respondents. Through AEEC's completion of this process, Forest Service officials were able to effectively respond to public interest and concern.

Public comments on land management plans is often unpredictable. The volume of comments received may come in rapidly requiring an immediate need to increase staffing. AEEC developed efficient methods of staffing for projects when required by demand. AEEC completed the work on time and under budget for the land management projects. Personnel developed databases and tools to improve processes and product deliverables. Based on their satisfaction, the customer requested ownership of these tools as they lowered costs, shortened timeframes, and produced higher quality deliverables.

The most critical and effective development performed by AEEC for these projects was several Perl scripts (*.pl) that could extract certain data from Oracle or Access and either change and replace or create new text files out of the data. Each was very specific to the individual tasks and requests by agency members. The ability to transfer data back and forth between Oracle and Access was imperative for efficient work on these projects. The Forest Service had previously only used an Oracle database to generate reports and extract information. This approach limited what could be produced. With the scripts developed to link Oracle to Access, AEEC had more flexibility and freedom to find and extract any information in the database and report it in whatever format the client wanted based on what was the most efficient and easy to use. Agency members were continually impressed with the rapid turn around times from request to delivery. This example is an excellent illustration of AEEC's ability to provide sig nificant cost savings to clients by implementing IT solutions where labor costs can be excessive.

The projects completed by AEEC include the Southern California National Forest Plan Revision, the San Juan Coalbed Methane Development Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the Natural Resource Conservation Service Conservation Security Program Farm Bill, and the Mark Twain National Forest Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement Amendment. Personnel included management and database management staff as well as administrative support staff working to produce high quality products for our client.

U.S. Internal Revenue Service Business Rules and Requirements Management

AEEC has primed a contract at the IRS working with the Business Rules and Requirements Management (BRRM) organization to gather end user business requirements and document business processes related to IRS tax returns, claim management, and case management. The work is a high level documentation of the 5 year business requirements, a gap analysis of existing applications, documentation of the business processes, and a rules based approach to the business applications. AEEC is working with IBM as a subcontractor to do this work. IBM is providing subject matter expertise, business analysis, and limited project management assistance. AEEC is providing business analysis and project and program management. Our resources are using a number of documentation tools (Excel, Work, Power Point, Visio; Systems Architect) to document and present the requirements and processes. The business rules engine will be a product called RuleBurst.

AEEC is doing significant recruiting, hiring, and training as part of the contract staffing. We have developed an aggressive staffing plan which we are managing to and currently on track to achieve.