fpOnline Newsletter February 2024
   

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In This Issue

What is fpOnline?

  • fpOnline is a software solution that modernizes how users create, submit, and review forest practices applications (FPAs) and water type modification forms (WTMFs).
  • Users will be able to complete and submit forms online, sign electronically, pay online, create maps online, and attach PDF or TIFF maps.
  • fpOnline will meet regulatory requirements, will comply with forest practices rules, and will adhere to DNR Forest Practices Program policies.
​

Project Milestones & Phases

  • The Planning phase involves preparation for RFP, team selection and High level requirements. This phase started in May 2023.
    The Procurement phase involves request for proposals, technology budget, vendor selection, and contract negotiations. This phase started in November 2023 and ends in March 2024.
  • The Discovery phase involves determining detailed requirements and ensure common understanding. This phase starts in April 2024 and ends in July 2024.
  • The Configuration phase involves Software configured to meet requirements. This phase starts in June 2024 and ends in October 2024.
  • The Testing & Training phase involves Configuration tested and compared to requirements and Users trained using multiple formats. This phase starts in July 2024 and ends in December 2024.
  • The software will Go Live in Jan 2025.
​

Look Ahead

  • DNR is evaluating vendor proposals through January. Vendor demonstrations are planned for February 5 and 6.
  • DNR staff will attend the Oregon Logging Conference in Salem, Oregon on February 22.
  • Monthly, recurring Advisory Committee meetings will take place in February.
If you have questions regarding attending informational meetings, please email dnrrefponline@dnr.wa.gov.

February 2024

  • Feb. 1, 2024 - Pacific Cascade Region North TFW Meeting Fort Borst Park/Virtual, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Feb. 5, 2024 - fpOnline Vendor Demonstrations
  • Feb. 6, 2024 - fpOnline Vendor Demonstrations
  • Feb. 7, 2024 - Landowner Advisory Committee, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
  • Feb. 7, 2024 - FP Program Coordinator Call, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Feb. 7, 2024 - DNR FP Staff Advisory Committee, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 8, 2024 - Reviewers Advisory Committee, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
  • Feb. 8, 2024 - FP District Manager Meeting, 8:15 a.m. - 10 a.m.
  • Feb. 9, 2024 - Announce Apparent Successful fpOnline Software Vendor
  • Feb. 15, 2024 - fpOnline Vendor Debriefing Conference
  • Feb. 20, 2024 - FP Assistants Meeting, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Feb. 21, 2024 - FP Statewide Program Meeting, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
  • Feb. 22, 2024 - Oregon Logging Conference
  • Feb. 22, 2024 - fpOnline Steering Committee, 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 28, 2024 - DNR Sponsor Coalition Meeting, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Feb. 29, 2024 - Pacific Cascade Region South TFW Meeting Lewis County PUD / Virtual, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

 March 2024

  • March 5, 2024 - DNR FP Staff Advisory Committee, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • March 5, 2024 - Reviewers Advisory Committee, 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
  • March 6, 2024 - Landowner Advisory Committee, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
  • March 6, 2024 - FP Program Coordinator Call, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • March 7, 2024 - FP District Manager Meeting, 8:15 a.m. - 10 a.m.
  • March 19, 2024 - Forest Practices Program Quarterly Meeting - Virtual (meeting times TBD)
  • March 27, 2024 - DNR Sponsor Coalition Meeting, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
  • March 28, 2024 - fpOnline Steering Committee, 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Get Involved

Become a member of an advisory committee. Advisory committees will meet throughout the course of the project. Members will receive updates on fpOnline’s development and be asked to provide guidance. To join one of these committees, please contact dnrrefpon-line@dnr.wa.gov.
 
Committees:
  • Internal DNR fpOnline Advisory Committee
  • Forest Landowner Advisory Committee 
  • Reviewer Advisory Committee 
Read the December newsletter to learn more about advisory committees.
 
You can also attend a Town Hall meeting where we will make major announcements to update everyone who is interested in the current status of the fpOnline project. Town Hall meeting dates and times will be announced through GovDelivery, through the Region Timber, Fish, and Wildlife (TFW) and Upper Columbia Basin (UCB) email, and on the fpOnline website. The next Town Hall meeting is tentatively planned for April 2024.

Question of the Month

What process will DNR follow to close out the Request for Proposal (RFP) and onboard the vendor?​

After DNR announces the apparently successful vendor, there will be a period of time for debriefs with all vendors and for any potential protests, based on the Department of Enterprise rules. Bidders have three days to request a debrief, which will be scheduled as quickly as possible. After the debrief, there is a five-day window for unsuccessful vendors to file a specific protest.
If a vendor files a protest, it is uncertain how long it would take DNR to resolve that protest. If there are no protests, DNR will enter into negotiations with the apparently successful vendor and begin developing the contract. If all goes smoothly, the two parties will sign the contract in March/April and the vendor will begin work.

Accomplishments

fpOnline RFP Submissions Closed

The proposal submission period for the Request for Proposal (RFP) has closed, DNR has evaluated the proposals, and chosen the top three vendors. The vendor is expected to begin work in March/April 2024.

Funding

fpOnline funding is in the Governor’s draft budget bill.

Advisory Committees

DNR launched the three monthly, recurring advisory committees: Internal DNR Forest Practices, Forest Landowners, and Reviewers in December 2023.

Project Meetings & Presentations

fpOnline staff attended the Small Forest Landowner’s Advisory Committee meeting in January.
 

Nerd Corner

DNR’s development approach for fpOnline

DNR will be using a hybrid methodology or a combination of Waterfall and Agile to develop fpOnline. 
 
WATERFALL
Waterfall is the traditional approach to project management and is based on developing the whole product at once in a linear fashion.
 
Pros:
  • Developers have the time and resources to complete the entire product.
Cons:
  • Development can diverge from the actual need of the users, because waterfall does not require periodic check-ins with users during development.
Most of the Waterfall products were developed in relation to the planning phase to meet the Office of the Chief Information Officer’s best management practices. Examples of Waterfall products include:
  • Technology Budget
  • Project Scope
  • Project Management Plan
  • Procurement Management Plan
  • Vendor Management Plan
  • Migration Plan
  • Organizational Change Management Plan
  • Stakeholder Register
  • Monthly Risk Reports and responses
  • Hiring resources
AGILE
Agile is a newer method created primarily for software development. It is based on incremental development, with functional sections of the product built up throughout the span of the project.
 
Pros:
  • The functional product sections can be reviewed by users to verify workflow and usability.
  • Changes can be made during the project to correct issues before the software is released for all to use.
Cons:
  • Agile is a labor- and time-intensive process that can sometimes result in an incomplete final product because the development team ran out of money, time, or resources to build out the complete product.
The Agile portion of the project will begin when the software vendor is procured to build the fpOnline product. Functional pieces of fpOnline will be designed, built, tested, and demonstrated to ensure the product meets the business workflow and end user functional needs.
Each developmental “sprint” will last approximately three weeks to build out the functional components of fpOnline.

Team Member Spotlight

Saboor Jawad, Forest Regulation Division Manager

Saboor Jawad is the Forest Regulation Division Manager for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Saboor oversees the work of this division, which includes the implementation of the statewide forest practices program. Underpinning this program is a permitting system that is currently being modernized through fpOnline.
Saboor has a background in natural resources management with degrees from the College of Forestry and Conservation of the University of Montana and the University of Queensland. Saboor’s first job with DNR was in 2021 as Adaptive Management Program Administrator. Prior to that, Saboor worked for a specialized agency of the United Nations. He is also a business sponsor of the fpOnline project.

Keeping up with fpOnline

Future User Quotes

“Make it simple to use for everyone. You shouldn’t need a forestry degree to submit an application. Try to please the main part of the bell curve of people who will use it. It won’t happen overnight, but we will get there.”   
- FP Manager
“I appreciate the effort going on to make sure that the fpOnline investment meets all of the needs that we’ve identified as a board, such as what the application needs to be, potential pitfalls, and opportunities.” 
- FP Board Member
“We’re excited to see fpOnline coming to fruition. We’re unsure of how it is going to go, but once we start seeing it all fall into place, we’ll have more to say.” 
- DNR Staff member