U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
                                                               NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                                                                Silver Spring, Md. 20910                                 W/OSO1

                                                                April 24, 1992

TO:                 All Holders of Operations Manual

SUBJECT:      Transmittal Memorandum for Operations Manual Issuance 92-1

1.     Material Transmitted:

WSOM Chapter A-21, Appendix B, entire appendix, "NWS Configuration Management for Operational Systems, Data Review Group Terms of Reference," 3 pages.

2.    Summary:

Section C of the Data Review Group (DRG) Terms of Reference within WSOM Chapter A-21 has been modified. This modification involves having the DRG Chairman position filled by the Office of Systems Operations, Change Management Section (W/OSO112), on a continuing basis, rather than being rotated through each DRG represented office on an annual basis. [In accordance with the Office of Systems Operations, Change Management Section's (W/OSO112) DRG participation in the past, the DRG Chairman will be a non-voting member.]

3.    Effect on Other Instructions:

Revises Appendix B, DRG Terms of Reference, dated November 25, 1987, to WSOM Chapter A-21, issuance 88-9, dated October 20, 1988, and Revision 1, WSOM issuance 90-5, dated June 9, 1990.

Elbert W. Friday, Jr.
Assistant Administrator
for Weather Services

APPENDIX B NWS

A. Purpose

The purpose of the Data Review Group (DRG) is to provide for an orderly, logical, and expeditious review and processing of Requests for Change to data products on communication systems under NWS Configuration Management.

B. Authority

The National Weather Service (NWS) Configuration Management Board (CMB) has authorized the establishment of the DRG under the administrative control of the Systems Integration Manager (SIM), who is the Chief, Systems Integration Division, Office of Systems Operations. The DRG is authorized to approve or reject Requests for Change affecting data products which have been referred to the group by the SIM. The DRG will return those requests that require a change in NWS policy or new budgetary support to the SIM for referral to the CMB.

The determination of the scientific merit of new products (those in development or having just completed development and checkout) remains with the Committee on Analysis and Forecast Technique Implementation (CAFTI). Requests for Change for new products are referred to the DRG after CAFTI recommendations are approved by the Director, Office of Meteorology (OM), and/or the Director, Office of Hydrology (OH).

The validation of requirements for product changes remains the authority of the OM and/or OH. Requests that involve new or changing requirements are referred to the DRG after the validation of requirements is reviewed by the Meteorological Requirements Review Group and approved by the Director, OM, and/or the Director, OH.

The distribution of data products over the Family of Services (FOS) network remains the authority of the FOS Internal Review Committee (IRC). The OM and the Office of Systems Operations' Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch represent the interests of the FOS IRC on the DRG.

C. Composition

* The DRG will be composed of at least one member from the OM, OH, National Meteorological Center, Office of Systems Development, and Office of Systems Operations, selected by those organizational elements. The group will not exceed 10 members. The Office of Systems Operations, Change Management Section (W/OSO112), will fill the position of the DRG Chairman on a continuing basis. The DRG Chairman will be a non-voting member.

D. Functions

The functions of the DRG are those necessary for effective and efficient management of data products. These functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

        1. Review requested changes to determine the feasibility of their implementation.

        2. Provide thorough coordination with the members' offices before and after decisions by the group, each member being responsible for such coordination and prepared to brief the group, as necessary.

        3. Return requests to originators and request additional information and/or supporting rationale whenever necessary.

        4. Approve or reject requests that fall within the purview of the group.

        5. Inform the SIM through memorandum of decisions taken by the group together with the accompanying rationale for each.

        6. Inform the SIM through memorandum of tasks to be performed as a result of decisions taken by the group.

        7. Return requests upon which the group cannot agree and requests which are determined to severely impact the system to the SIM for consideration by the CMB.

E. Operating Rules and Procedures

The DRG will operate under the following rules and procedures:

        1. Members are expected to participate personally and normally will not designate an alternate to represent them at meetings. If an alternate is necessary, the alternate will be delegated full authority. If a member cannot attend a meeting or arrange for an alternate, the representative may give the chairman an instructed proxy, and should provide a summary to the DRG Chairman on the status of items assigned to the representative.

        2. A quorum will consist of 50 percent of the membership of the group representing at least three of the offices. Proxies to be voted by the chairman will not count in establishing a quorum.

        3. The group shall operate on the basis of consensus; any member can insist on the resolution of an issue by the Systems Integration Manager (SIM). If a DRG member strongly disagrees with the decision of the group on an item, the group shall hold the item pending. The DRG chairman shall then arrange for a meeting with the SIM no later than 2 working days after the DRG meeting. This meeting shall involve the DRG chairman, the SIM, the Systems Change Manager (SCM), the dissenting DRG member, and a representative from the office making the original request. In the case where a regional headquarters office originates the DRG request, a conference call will be arranged. If the issue is resolved at this level, its resolution shall be reported by the chairman in the minutes of the recently held DRG meeting. If there is no resolution at this level, the item will be immediately sent on to the next level of review by the SIM. At this level, NWS CM office and regional focal points will be queried for comments and recommendations. The SCM shall inform the DRG at its next meeting of the results of this review.

        4. The schedule for regular meetings of the group will depend on their work load, timeliness, and other considerations and will be at the discretion of the chairman. An agenda and brief summary of major issues to be decided or discussed will be provided at least 7 working days in advance.

        5. The chairman, in consultation with members of the group, will invite other persons to attend any group meeting as deemed useful to the work of the group.

        6. All Requests for Change to data products are to be submitted to the SIM. Upon receipt at the SIM office, they will be logged and distributed to the DRG members for review.

        7. Written summaries of major decisions will be submitted to members for approval before becoming final, as part of the meeting minutes. These summaries will be issued within 1 week after the meeting unless a longer time is necessary for required staff work. Decisions will become effective immediately following final approval.

        8. Requests for Change which correct simple errors may be approved by the chairman between meetings and documented at the next meeting.

WSOM-A-21-92-1