DIRECTIVE	:	UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 08-00
TO	:	ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES
FROM	:	GRACE A. KILBANE Director Unemployment Insurance Service
SUBJECT	:	Lockheed Martin Integrated Business Solutions (LMIBS) and the Louisiana Claims Control Center (LCCC) Year 2000 (Y2K) Readiness

Purpose.To inform SESAs of the Y2K readiness of the LCCC and the LMIBS Interstate Connection (ICON) applications and Orlando Data Center infrastructure.

Background.Over the past several months there have been several inquiries made by the States and Regional Offices concerning the Y2K readiness of the ICON contractor, LMIBS, and the LCCC. Consequently, the Department of Labor has requested and received from LMIBS documentation regarding the Y2K readiness of their computer systems and infrastructure. Information has also been received from the LCCC regarding their Y2K readiness.

LMIBS Statement on Y2K Readiness. The following statements regarding the Y2K readiness of ICON applications and the LMIBS Orlando Data Center Hub have been extracted from information provided to the Department of Labor from LMIBS and fairly summarizes their Y2K readiness status:

ICON Data Records and Model Code
The model [ICON] code changes were distributed in January, 1998, and since June 1998, Year 2000 versions of the model code have been operational (outputting and inputting dates with the century).

Actual Hub Processing Environment for ICON
The hub processing of ICON data is not dependent on any non-standard or customized software. The hub function, as it relates to data handling, is a store-and-forward operation. This does not require any manipulation of the data as it passes through the hub.

The hub-processing environment supporting ICON is as follows:

Lockheed Martin represents and warrants that system level software utilized in providing services to the ICON customer is Year 2000 ready in that it accurately processes date/time (including, but not limited to calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into, and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and the years 1999 and 2000 and leap year calculations. All hardware and system level software have been implemented and tested in accordance with vendor documentation and instructions and are confirmed to have tested successfully.

LMIBS retains backup generator support in the Orlando Data Center. In the event of a power outage this support could be utilized until power was effectively restored. During four consecutive weekends of April 1999 and May 1999, and prior to migrating the ICON production to the OS390 environment, ICON-specific testing was done. This included stand-alone hub processing, actual batch data transmission and execution with selected SESAs, and real-time data exchange-Interstate Benefits Inquiry (IBIQ).

Please be assured that IBS is committed to monitoring all ICON activity relative to Year 2000 and responding, as may be necessary, in order that our processing transition into the next century is a non-event for ICON.

LCCC Y2K Readiness Response. LCCC has stated that all systems are Y2K compliant and operate on the Louisiana Department of Labor mainframe computer system which is Year 2000 compliant and which has successfully passed two independent verification and validation (IV&V) processes. However, the required LCCC SESA inquiry form's record layout continues to use a 2-digit year format for separation dates. New record layouts are being developed for the LCCC that will utilize a 4-digit date format. The estimated date of implementation is mid-to-late FY 2000. So that SESAs will not have to reformat their systems twice in less than a year, the problem is being temporarily resolved by LCCC staff using a bridging program to insert the proper century date until the new record format is implemented. SESAs may continue to transmit inquiry forms using the old format until instructions are issued to change to the new format.

LMIBS Zero Day Activities. Preparations are continuing to be made by LMIBS for the millennium turnover. These include establishment of an Emergency Operations Center, establishment of Rapid Response Teams, backup of critical systems/customer files, and the final examinations of office and data center facilities. During and immediately after the millennium turnover, an initial check out of equipment and services and confirmation of the basic computing environment platforms will take place. Following the successful test of the basic environment, individual ICON programs will be cleared to be brought on line. At this point the ICON support group will run a series of ICON related jobs, both batch and ICS, internally. In addition, arrangements will be made with selected SESAs to test with the hub by transmitting batch data and establishing the IBIQ and WIC connections. Results will be relayed to agencies and/or individuals as requested.

Acceptance. After careful review of documentation furnished by LMIBS, the Department believes that the ICON contractor (LMIBS) is Y2K compliant and the infrastructure is in place to continue the ICON functions during the critical phases of the century and millennium turnover and into the next century. In addition, the Department agrees that the temporary fix being used by the LCCC on the inquiry form's record layout will allow processing of inquiries without interruption in the new century and that no further action by SESAs is required until the new format instructions are issued.

Action Required. SESA Administrators are requested to provide this information to appropriate staff. SESAs desiring to test ICON processing with LMIBS during the "Zero Day" period may coordinate directly with LMIBS (contact Martha Hazelrigg at 407-306-7228)

Inquiries. Direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.