SASA Who?

SASA (rhymes with NASA) is an acronym that stands for Simplified Acquisition Strategy and Analysis. SASA is a team of four Glenn employees assigned to 0600 - Office of Acquisition. Permanent team members are Karen Edwards, Maryann Pawson (formerly Dutkofski), and Doreen Medzi. A fourth rotational member currently detailed to our group is Paul Raitano (see following article).

SASA is dedicated to assisting with the purchasing process at NASA Glenn. The SASA team monitors the Acquisition Answer Line (3-5391). This answer line has replaced the Procurement Division HELP line. The team helps with the training and education of customers. The SASA team also administers the bulk funding program, performs Bankcard Program audits on a weekly basis, manages the Simplified Acquisition web site, and participates on the IFM (Integrated Financial Management) Agency team. The SASA team is the point of contact for outside vendors, as well as several other duties. Our motto is "We can help", and we really try to do just that.

New SASA Rotational Team Member

Hi, I'm Paul Raitano. I joined the SASA team in May for a rotational term of six months. I am a member of the 7550 Space Electronics Test Engineering branch. The 7550 branch supports a variety of the space test facilities with controls, data systems, instrumentation and electrical design. I will be assisting the SASA team with many assignments such as the editing of this newsletter. During my detail I will also be helping audit bankcard purchases. As part of this assignment I have learned basic HTML coding and will place some new or modified Simplified Acquisition web pages on-line soon. In one month I have learned a lot about the Glenn Research Center business organizations and look forward to more learning opportunities to come.

Special Event Purchases

Planning an Open House, Conference, or an Awards Ceremony? Will you be using your bankcard to make purchases for this event? Be sure to call SASA first! We can give you advice on what can and cannot be purchased and the best ways to make those purchases. In many cases, items purchased for these events are sensitive or even restricted in nature and may require Legal Office approval. We can advise you ahead of time on such issues, and save you the hassle of having to redirect or even cancel a purchase request. We are in the process of drafting a set of guidelines for handling special event purchases and can use your input and assistance. See the "New Customer Focus" article for more information on how you can participate.

New Customer Focus Groups

Palmtop Caution

This is just a reminder that Palmtop computers (often called Palmtop organizers) are considered taggable items and cannot be purchased with a bankcard. Procurement Division Buyers must purchase these items. Also remember that Palmtops are considered IT (ADP) equipment and must be routed through CSD. A "mission critical" statement is also required and should be included in an APRS "note".

Calibration Lab Items

Instrumentation-type items may be purchased with your government bankcard; however, such items must be shipped to Cal Lab Receiving, Building 21. Please refer to the web site listed below, which gives a listing of instrumentation-type items that can be purchased on bankcard:

Repayment Option.....Still An Option

When a government credit card is not acceptable and you do not have time to process a regular PR for procurement, we'd like to remind all requesters that the Repayment Option is still a viable method to obtain urgent items. By selecting the Repayment Option in APRS and obtaining fund certification, you can buy the items you need with your own personal funds up to $2,500. Once the items are purchased, attach the receipt to a government SF1034 form, and mail it to FMD/REPAYMENT at 500-303. Within 2-3 weeks, you will receive reimbursement in the form of a check.

Cardholder Responsibility

Please remember the following when using your bankcard:

• You the cardholder are responsible to NASA for the purchases you make
• Make sure what you are buying is appropriate
• Maintain security of your card and the number - no one else may use your bankcard
• Only civil-servants may obtain bankcards
• Insure that funds are available before you make your purchase
• Closely review and promptly reconcile your statement (within 5 days from receipt!)
• Quickly report any security problems with your card

IFM Overview

You may have heard or seen the acronym IFM and wondered what it was or how does this relate to me. The acronym IFM stands for Integrated Financial Management program. IFM is a standardized integrated financial management package that encompasses not only Procurement functions, but a wide variety of other daily business functions, as well. IFM is an agency wide program that will be implemented at each NASA center in various stages called flights. NASA Glenn is scheduled for implementation during IFM's last flight currently scheduled to take place sometime in mid to late 2001.

IFM will replace NASA Glenn's current Procurement related legacy systems, such as APRS, AMS, and ODISy. IFM will affect not only Procurement it will also replace systems currently in use for time and attendance, travel, budget, and financial management. In one way or another IFM will touch everyone.

Upon successful implementation of the IFM software NASA Glenn will become a part of NASA's new integrated and standardized business environment.

Boise! BFP! - Whom Do We Call?

For all new bankcard holders and new BFP users, please be reminded that although both BFP and Boise I-97 are automated systems available to assist in your procurement process, they are utilized for different applications. BFP is an on-line program created to assist bankcard holders in keeping an accurate financial record of their bulk funded PR. Boise Cascade's I-97 is an on-line ordering system for purchases made by cardholders. All credit card purchases made against a bulk funded PR must be entered into the BFP system regardless of the vendor from which the purchase was made.

All matters related to Boise Cascade Office Products/I-97 are to be forwarded directly to Jim Henderson (Boise's Marketing Systems Administrator). Jim can be reached at (216) 898-2400 or 1-877-286-5791, Extension 2457. These matters include problems experienced while utilizing the I-97 automated system, changes and/or deletions to your Boise profile and miscellaneous questions that cannot be answered by their Federal Customer Service Representative (1-888-505-3337).

All matters related to the Bulk Funding Program (BFP) are to be directed to Maryann Pawson (formerly Dutkofski) (SASA Office). Maryann can be reached at x-5306. If she is unavailable, please contact Karen Edwards (x-9345), Paul Raitano (x-3097) or leave a message on the Acquisition Answer Line (x-5391).

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