Agency Secure Image and Storage Tracking System (ASIST)

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (M/CIO) is responsible for information resources management, as defined in the E‐Government Act of 2002 and OMB Circular A‐130, as well as for all Chief Information Officer functions mandated by the Clinger‐Cohen Act of 1996.

The Information Technology Operations Division (M/CIO/ITO) is responsible for development, implementation, operation, and enhancement of enterprise business and infrastructure applications as per customer requirements as provided by the Engineering Branch. This division is also responsible for operating and maintaining USAID infrastructure and its components as well as USAID data administration functions.

The System Development Branch (M/CIO/ITO/SD) develops new business systems and applications, and executes the agency IT project life cycle methodology and establishes and maintains the project’s life cycle documentation. The Branch also manages the Web Services that are accessed over the Internet, using standardized technologies and formats/protocols that simplify the exchange and integration of large amounts of data. It also manages unit testing, system testing, system integration testing, stress/volume testing and user acceptance testing, supports quality audits performed by Quality Management, and packages and distributes software for subsequent deployment by the Infrastructure/Operations Branch.

Agency Secure Image and Storage Tracking System (ASIST) is a content management solution. ASIST’s user interface and functionality are a USAID custom front‐end for Documentum, a software package. Documentum software provides centralized and generalized document storage and retrieval services relied on by system owners in USAID bureaus, offices, and missions in Washington and overseas missions. ASIST enables staff to track, search and access Agency documents that are stored in Documentum, such as correspondence, audit documents, payment documents and contract‐related documents. The centralization, search capability, and access controls provided by ASIST and Documentum also facilitates Agency responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, and other disclosure requests. ASIST is customized and maintained by the USAID Office of the Chief Information Officer to improve the efficiency and security of handling documents for USAID Missions and Washington headquarters. USAID‐specific customization includes direct support for folders and processes such as Correspondence, Contracts, Vouchers, SOs/Activities, and Personal Services Contracts. ASIST also enables the creation of custom folders to support other business processes and can incorporate desired index data without code changes.