AEI C&A Security Support Phase 2
TDG performed the USDA Risk Management Framework Step 4 certification and accreditation services for FNS for the APHIS Enterprise Infrastructure General Support System (AEI GSS).
The AEI GSS is a strategically-planned, inter-networked, centralized communications infrastructure conceived to provide connectivity for APHIS information systems operated within and throughout the five geographically dispersed computer rooms. The AEI does not process information – rather, it provides the connectivity platform for APHIS Program Units to connect their information systems to one centralized core backbone.
The AEI GSS, in all computing facilities utilize the USDA NET for Wide area connection to the rest of USDA. The GSS is comprised of major components providing a multitude of services to APHIS employees including mobile services, database applications, wireless, VoIP, trouble ticket system, border protection devices and other critical centralized services. To provide the technical backbone to host these major components the AEI GSS utilizes multiple components, both hardware and software, located at its 5 hosting facilities. These major components include products from CISCO, Microsoft, HP, Dell, Oracle, IBM and many others. The AEI GSS includes all Firewalls, routers, switches, storage devices, servers and includes the desktops and laptops that attach to the LANS within each computing center and the field environment.
The AEI is resilient (logically-redundant and fault-tolerant) and fortified with multiple layers of security from the external perimeter through to the data/object level of the applications and data resources accessed through the infrastructure. The core of the APHIS WAN backbone is made up of 5 computing centers, four with Cisco 7600 series routers connected to the AT&T UTN MPLS network and one with Cisco 2800 series router connected to the AT&T UTN MPLS network. These Cisco 7600 routers are in each of the Ft. Collins, Minneapolis, Raleigh, and Riverdale computing centers. The Cisco 2800 series router connected to the AT&T UTN MPLS network is in the Ames computing center. The Ft. Collins and Riverdale computing centers connect to the AT&T UTN MPLS at 1GB speeds while all others connect to the AT&T UTN MPLS network via DS3 access. APHIS remote sites also connect directly into the AT&T UTN MPLS network via T1 access. Ft Collins CO and Riverdale MD both have SSL VPN access points for remote connections to allow customer connectivity. A typical remote site will consist of Cisco router and a 24-port switch, depending on the demands of the site. Each remote router is running BGP as its routing protocol for routing through the AT&T UTN MPLS network.
Contracting Officer: Ms. Bonnie Simpson
Telephone number: (970) 494-7179
E-mail address: Bonnie.K.Simpson@aphis.usda.gov
USDA APHIS ASD IT CONTRACTS- CO
2150 Centre Avenue
NRRC BLDG B
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Program manager: Ms. Cynthia A. MacLeod
Telephone number: (301) 851-3000
E-mail address: Cindy.A.MacLeod@aphis.usda.gov
USDA, APHIS, MRPBS, TMB
4700 River Road, Unit 101
Riverdale, MD 20737
