CONTENTS Committee meeting and hearing schedules... Data bases at the Library of Congress and the Congressional Research GUIDELINES FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING AND COMPUTER SERVICE ACTIVITIES The Committee on Rules and Administration shall have authority concerning policy, organization, initiation, implementation, operation and evaluation of all matters concerned with information processing and communications as they relate to mechanization, automation, computerization, or related functions. All Senators, Committee Chairmen and Officers of the Senate shall address requests for such services to the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration, with supporting documentation of the requirements. At the direction of the Committee, its staff will consult with the requester, make any additions necessary to the documentation, and prepare a report for consideration by the Committee. If the Committee favorably considers a study or action for initiation or implementation, it will direct its staff to take responsibility for the performance of the specified task in full consultation and agreement with the requester, who will be considered to be the user or recipient of such task or service. All statements of requirements, justifications, cost analyses and recommendations will be developed by the staff in conjunction with the users. At the direction of the Committee, the staff will act as a project director (or will designate a project director) for the performance of all tasks or projects. This would include the selection, monitoring and evaluation of contractors and consultants, as well as Senate staff component support. In addition, the staff will be responsible for (or will delegate responsibilty for) all implementation, operation, user orientation and training, and evaluation of any approved systems, including the procurement (or delegation of such procurement) of any supporting equipment or services. At the request of a Senator, committee, or office, the Committee on Rules and Administration will provide for professional consultation concerning problems related to information processing, ongoing systems under the jurisdiction of the Senate, or systems proposed to the Committee for consideration. The Committee will establish all policy concerning the operation of new services and systems, and will maintain the authority to have its staff be responsible for such operation, if so required. In addition, the Committee will assume the authority and responsibility for any related supporting activities not so stated above, as may become necessary from time to time. Nothing in the foregoing is intended to preclude Senators, Committees, or Officers of the Senate from conducting independent preliminary studies or investigations of administrative practices and procedures, providing any consequent commitments in the name of the Senate with regard to information processing services be made through and by the Committee on Rules and Administration. |