(NASIS) Requirements Definition Document - Bureau of Indian ...

NASIS Requirements Definition Document (RDD)
Version 1.0
17 February 2006
Section 2: System, Technical, and Operational Requirements
2.1 General Architectural Requirements
In order to: 1) minimize system support needs, system cost, 2) enhance security and the user experience,
and 3) position the system for future technological developments, NASIS will embody these
characteristics and employ the best of available and proven technology, to include:
• Centralized, Web-based system
• Web browser-based user interface
• Windows-based user interface
• Open standards and open source solutions
• School Interoperability Framework (SIF) compliance
• Open database connectivity (ODBC) compliance
• Online analytical processing (OLAP) tools
• Data warehouse for student and school information
• Data analysis tools for multi-dimensional data analyses and reports
• Messaging for staff, students, and parents
NASIS may be delivered as either a government owned and operated system, a government owned and
contractor operated system, or as a service from an application service provider (ASP). The high level
architectural components are:
• Core NASIS Platform. BIA and the Department of the Interior have standardized on Microsoft
and Oracle software products and Intel/AMD-based server platforms, therefore the core NASIS
components should be consistent with these standards. Should the government select an ASP
solution, the government is neutral on the platform as long as other requirements can be satisfied.
• Network Service. Users will communicate with the core NASIS platform over TCP/IP based
networks. Schools employ the Educational Native American Network -2 (ENAN-2) for external
connectivity, including access to the Internet.
• End-user Platform. The end-user will access NASIS via a Web browser. NASIS will
accommodate multiple browsers, but as a minimum will support Microsoft Internet Explorer.
NASIS will support two primary functional needs. Implicit in fulfilling these requirements is a data
warehouse with OLAP tools. More information on functional needs may be found in subsequent sections
of this document and in the appendices.
• Federal and State Reporting. The foremost requirement of NASIS is to support the reporting
requirements levied on OIEP by the US Department of Education and the State education
agencies. OIEP is distinct from many other school systems in that it operates in 23 states and
must exchange data with the states, including the required reports. Because vendors design
school information systems to operate at the school level up to the state level, there do not appear
to be solutions on the market that can readily accommodate OIEP’s needs, although the technical
feasibility exists.
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