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03/26/2025 - 04/08/2025 |
In the past sprint, we completed the following deliverables:
- Delivered FRA Reporting Requirements MVP Deliverable 2: Parsing, Validation, & Error Reporting, successfully overhauling the backend parsing engine to support FRA submissions! This included a refactor to a class-based architecture, modular validation for TANF and FRA data types, and enhanced error reporting with embedded field values. This work lays the technical foundation for a scalable and performant submission system that supports both CSV and XLSX formats with robust, user-friendly validation.
During this sprint, the team focused on enhancing the functionality of the FRA report interface, improving user interaction, and ensuring data security. Other highlights included:
FRA Reporting Requirements MVP:
- Standardized FRA submission and error report filenames for clarity and consistency.
Application Health Monitoring:
- Improved traceability and debugging by associating log files with each datafile submission.
- Introduced system-level metrics and alerting for improved visibility into backend performance.
Operations & Maintenance:
- Prevented users from accessing or submitting outdated or incorrect data through validation rule updates.
- Enhanced submission integrity by refining SSN and citizenship validation logic.
- Supported Tribal TANF participation by adding the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to the reporting system.
{% hint style="info" %} For more detailed information on task progress, please visit the overall roadmap for these epics. {% endhint %}
- Application Health Monitoring | AT RISK | Progress: 67% (+11%) | Estimated Completion Date: July 29, 2025
- Enabling Secure Data Access for DIGIT in Grafana | AT RISK | Progress: 10% (+5%) | Estimated Completion Date: August 12, 2025
- Potential Risk: #3363 is awaiting merge to production. #3472 is now blocked until the merge of #3529 as it is dependent on removal of Kibana and ElasticSearch for additional resources.
- Note: This epic encapsulates new work and has not yet been finalized, as there are additional items that may impact scope. Thus, timelines and progress percentage are subject to change.
- FRA Reporting Requirements MVP | ON TRACK | Progress: 90% (+20%) | Estimated Completion Date: May 15, 2025
- fTANF Replacement - Foundational Research & Concept Validation | ON TRACK | Progress: 5% (+5%) | Estimated Completion Date: November 18, 2025
- Regional Staff TDP Access & Onboarding | OFF TRACK | Progress: 38% (-9%) | Estimated Completion Date: November 4, 2025
- Note: Due to some of the unforeseen changes in HHS staffing, this epic is on pause until further notice.
Note: #3363 is awaiting merge to production. #3529 is now blocked until the merge of #3363 as it is dependent on removal of Kibana and ElasticSearch for additional resources.
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3529 - Remove Elastic and Kibana from cloud.gov and Nginx | Removes unused Elastic and Kibana resources from Cloud.gov, reducing costs, improving security, and ensuring a more maintainable and efficient infrastructure. | BLOCKED |
| #3404 - Expose Celery apps to PLG | Enables proactive monitoring and faster debugging of Celery by integrating logs and metrics into Grafana, ensuring task failures are visible and actionable across all environments. | COMPLETE |
| #3255 - Integrate Node exporter for system metrics and alerting | Provides critical system-level visibility, enabling proactive alerts and faster diagnosis of infrastructure issues that could affect TDP performance and reliability. | RAFT REVIEW |
| #3258 - Implement Cloud.gov log drain for centralized logging with Promtail and Loki | Streamlines logging infrastructure, reduces deployment complexity, and ensures scalable, unified access to app logs in Loki. | IN PROGRESS & MOVED TO NEXT SPRINT |
| #3295 - Associate parsing log files with datafile submissions in DAC | Improves transparency and traceability, giving OFA users direct access to debugging details and enhancing trust in data processing outcomes. | IN PROGRESS & MOVED TO NEXT SPRINT |
Note: #3363 is awaiting merge to production. #3472 is now blocked until the merge of #3529 as it is dependent on removal of Kibana and ElasticSearch for additional resources.
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3472 - Investigate Grafana resource requirements for large exports | Helps determine whether Grafana can efficiently handle large TANF data exports, identifying potential memory constraints, performance limitations, and cost-effective solutions to meet DIGIT's interim data access needs. | BLOCKED |
| #3240 - Implement database retention of only latest file version | Reduces unnecessary data accumulation, improves query performance, and ensures STTs access the most up-to-date submission data while maintaining auditability through versioned files in S3. | COMPLETE |
| #3422 - Create and configure read-only RDS user for Grafana integration | Enables secure data exploration and dashboarding for OFA while safeguarding production data from accidental changes. | IN PROGRESS & MOVED TO NEXT SPRINT |
Note: #3533 should be unblocked on April 10 when we perform the FRA early access testing dry run.
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3533 - Set up demo environment for regional staff and FRA MVP testing | Enables UX to test and validate Regional user flows in a controlled environment, ensuring accurate data access and a smooth user experience ahead of the FRA MVP release. | BLOCKED |
| #3419 - Develop mechanism to generate FRA error reports | Ensures accurate error tracking, improves data validation, and enhances STTs' ability to identify and resolve submission issues efficiently. | COMPLETE |
| #3477 - Implement spinner for FRA Data File submissions | Enhances user experience, accessibility, and system efficiency by eliminating full-page reloads, enabling dynamic feedback, and supporting scalable monitoring of file processing status. | COMPLETE |
| #3522 - Implement generalized Cat4 validator | Improves the system’s scalability, reduces duplication, and lays the groundwork for easier implementation of future validation logic, including FRA-specific rules. | COMPLETE |
| #3508 - Stage all content for FRA (minus side navigation) | Enables early OFA review and feedback while keeping it hidden from users, ensuring a polished and accurate release without exposing content prematurely. | COMPLETE |
| #3556 - Rename FRA uploaded files and error reports to standardized format | Standardizes FRA submission and error report filenames to align with processing requirements, improve clarity for users, and ensure consistent file handling across the system. | RAFT REVIEW |
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #4547 - Prepare synthesis on FTANF ahead of research recommendations | Equips OFA with a shared understanding of user challenges and unmet needs in fTANF, laying the foundation for focused, informed research that supports a thoughtful transition to a modernized solution. | QASP REVIEW |
Note: Due to unforeseen changes in staffing, we will be postponing work with regional staff features at this time. This may be picked up at a later date.
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3408 - [Research Planning] OFA Regional Staff UI MVP | Establishes a structured research plan for the OFA Regional Staff UI MVP, ensuring a clear methodology for gathering user insights, refining designs, and aligning the interface with regional staff needs. | WILL NOT COMPLETE |
| #3262 - [Design Ideation] Regional Staff UI MVP | Ensured a well-researched, user-centered design foundation for the regional staff MVP, resulting in an intuitive interface that aligns with their workflows and meets key functional requirements. | COMPLETE |
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3455 - Simplify SSN Validation Rules to Focus on Work Eligible Individuals (WEI) | Reduces unnecessary submission errors for STTs, improves data quality, and aligns validation logic with OFA’s core employment tracking objectives. | COMPLETE |
| #3484 - Add Flag and Update Validation Rules for States participating in the FRA Pilot | Ensures compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, reducing reporting burdens for pilot states while maintaining data integrity and alignment with updated federal guidelines. | COMPLETE |
| #3457 - Remove Legacy SSN Validation Checks Based on Citizenship Status and Family Affiliation | Eliminates unnecessary errors, simplifies data submission for STTs, and aligns the system with OFA’s data-matching goals without compromising accuracy or compliance. | COMPLETE |
| #3458 - Bug: Empty error reports for accepted files | Ensures users are only shown the link to download an error report when relevant, preventing confusion and improving trust in the system’s feedback. | COMPLETE |
| #3353 - Bug: USWDS upgrade breaks GovBanner default state and toggle behavior | Restores expected behavior of the GovBanner component after a dependency upgrade, ensuring users receive a consistent and intuitive experience aligned with federal design standards. | COMPLETE |
| #3454 - Remove 0 as a value for Citizenship | Strengthens data integrity, ensures compliance with updated policy, and prevents inaccurate eligibility data from entering the system. | QASP REVIEW |
| #3291 - Add Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to tribal TANF system for quarterly reporting | Ensures the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (and another tribe) can fully participate in Tribal TANF reporting, supporting data submission, access requests, and compliance with federal reporting requirements. | RAFT REVIEW |
| #3498 - Migrate Raft/OFA to GHCR | Ensures long-term access, organizational control, and alignment with HHS-wide infrastructure standards, reducing dependency on third-party registries. | IN PROGRESS & MOVED TO NEXT SPRINT |
Note: Due to unforeseen changes in staffing, we will be postponing work with regional staff features at this time. This may be picked up at a later date.
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3461 - Create and facilitate Project Updates meeting for regional staff | Ensures regional staff are well-informed about their new TDP access, providing them with a clear understanding of key functionalities, a live demonstration, and an opportunity for Q&A, ultimately supporting a smooth onboarding process. | BLOCKED |
| #3523 - Refine research plan for regional staff MVP onboarding experience | Ensures user feedback is captured early, guiding design decisions with real-world insights and supporting the creation of a user-centered, effective interface. | BLOCKED |
| #3462 - Create and facilitate optional training session for regional staff | Empowers them to confidently navigate and utilize TDP’s features, fostering engagement, reducing support needs, and ensuring effective use of the platform. | BLOCKED |
| #3385 - Update Data Files page for regional staff | Ensured that regional staff have appropriate, limited access to TDP, enabling them to view submission history for their assigned STTs while preventing unauthorized data uploads or downloads, thereby enhancing security and role-based access control. | COMPLETE |
| Task | Value Proposition | Status |
|---|---|---|
| #3557 - Explore error message clarity in identified issue areas | Lays the groundwork for improving error clarity by investigating confusing messages, identifying actionable fixes, and proposing changes that will help users resolve issues more confidently and independently during data submission. | QASP REVIEW |